A novel polymeric nitridomanganese(V) complex with a Schiff base ligand [MnN(salpn)] (H-2(salpn): N,N'-disalicylidene-1,3-propanediamine) (1) was prepared by photolysis of the azidomanganese(III) complex, [MnN3(salpn)] in acetonitrile. The monomeric complex (2) was obtained by recrystallization of 1 from methanol. X-ray crystal structure analyses of 1 and 2 were carried out. The brown complex 1 has a linear . . . Mn=N . . . Mn=N . . . chain structure.