The novel macrocyclic octanuclear manganese(III) 24-metallacrown-8 [Mn-8(C96N16O24H104)(6)(DMF)(7)-(H2O)center dot 3DMF center dot 4.5H(2)O (1), has been self-assembly synthesized and characterized. The pentaclentate ligand is N-isobutyryl-5-methylsalicylhydrazide (H(3)ibumshz). The supramolecular complex assumes a nearly planar cyclic structure with succession of eight structural moieties of the type [Mn(III)-N-N-8 and measure similar to 22.74 angstrom in outer diameters. The chiralities of the manganese centers on the metalladiazamacrocycle occur in alternating ...Delta Lambda Delta Lambda... configurations. The title 24-metallacrown-8 has no crystallographic centrosymmetry. The magnetic property of the title 24-metallacrown-8 exhibits a weak antiferromagnetic exchange interaction. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.