The reaction of manganese(II) acetate with a xanthene-bridged bis[3-(salicylideneamino)-1-propanol] ligand, H4L, afforded the tetramanganese(II,II,III,III) complex [Mn-4(L)(2)(mu-OAc)(2)], which has an incomplete double-cubane structure. The corresponding reaction using manganese(II) chloride in the presence of a base gave the tetramanganese(III,IILIILIII) complex [Mn-4(L)(2)Cl-3(mu(4)-Cl)(OH2)], in which four Mn ions are bridged by a Cl- ion. A pair of L ligands has a propensity to incorporate four Mn ions, the arrangement and oxidation states of which are dependent on the coexistent anions.