A novel macrocyclic organotin carboxylate [(n-Bu2SnO)5L] (complex 1) [H2L = (3-carboxymethoxy-phenoxy) acetic acid] was synthesized by the reaction of di-n-butyltin oxide with H2L and is characterized by elemental analyses i.e. IR 1H NMR and UV spectroscopies. X-ray crystallography diffraction analysis reveals that complex 1 is a centrosymmetric macrocycle and contains a penta-nuclear four-fold-ladder-like organo-oxotin cluster. All five Sn atoms are five-coordinated and the coordination environment can be considered as a trigonal bipyramidal. The luminescent property of complex 1 has also been investigated. Pilot studies have confirmed that complex 1 has shown good antitumor activity.