Non-linear optical manganese mercury teterathiocyanate glycol monomethyl ether [MnHg (SCN)(4)(C(3)H(8)O(2))] compound was synthesized and single crystals were grown from water-glycol mono-methyl ether (1:1) mixed solvent by slow cooling method. Structure and crystallinity of the grown crystal were confirmed by both single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction analysis. Presence of functional groups and coordination of glycol monomethyl ether and thiocyanate in MMTG were confirmed by FT-IR analysis. Optical transmittance and second harmonic generation of the grown crystal were studied by UV-Vis spectrum and Kurtz powder technique. A dielectric study was performed on the MMTG single crystal to study the power dissipation of the material in the presence of alternating electric field. Mechanical behaviour was analysed using Vicker's microhardness test. Optical surface damage measurement was carried out to confirm the suitability of MMTG crystal for NLO applications. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.