The synthesis, X-ray structure and magnetochemical properties of the one-dimensional polymeric bicinate (bic(-)) manganese complex {[Mn(bic)Cl](2) . 2(H2O)}(n). Each mangenese ion has distorted octahedral coordination geometry. Bicine is a pentadentate ligand using one nitrogen, and four oxygen atoms to coordinate to the Mn-II ion. The two hydroxyl groups are not deprotonated and the carboxylate moiety of the bic(-) ligand ion is a bridge leading to a one-dimensional chain. The water molecules are not coordinated to the Mn-II ions, but are involved in hydrogen-bonding interactions with the chain. Only weak pairwise antiferromagnetic exchange interactions (J = -0.30 cm(-1)) are found within the chain complex due to the carboxylate bridges. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.