Asymmetric Schiff base manganese(III) complexes involving salen ligands, N,N′-bis(salicylidene)2,3-diaminopyridine, N,N′-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)2,3-diaminopyridine, N,N′bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)2,3-diaminopyridine and N,N′bis(3,5-di-chloro-salicylidene)2,3-diaminopyridine were prepared and their catalytic activity was investigated in the oxidation of some primary and secondary alcohols. During optimization of oxidation reactions, Mn-4, bearing electron withdrawing N,N′-Bis(3,5-di-chloro-salicylidene)2,3-diaminopyridine ligand, showed higher activity than other catalysts tested. The [a]