The triphenyltin complex with salicylidene-2-aminophenol (C31H24NO2Sn, 1) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The complex crystallizes in monoclinic system, P2(1)/c space group with a = 1.09515(8), b = 1.17739(8), c = 2.29075(14) nm, beta = 117.070(4)degrees, V = 2.6302(3) nm(3), Z = 4, D-c= 1.417 g/cm(3), mu = 0.999 mm(-1), F(000) = 1123, R= 0.0472 and wR= 0.1169. X-ray single-crystal diffraction showed that 1 demonstrates a one-dimensional chain structure. The quantum chemical calculation of 1 has been investigated. Complex 1 emits fluorescence at 558 nm and exhibits certain inhibitory activity against NCI-H460, A549 and MCF-7.