Manganese-containing MFI-type Mn-ZSM-5 zeolite was synthesized by a facile one-step hydrothermal method using tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPAOH) and manganese(III)-acetylacetonate as organic template and manganese salts, respectively. A highly crystalline MFI zeolite structure was formed under pH = 11 in 2 days, without the need for additional alkali metal cations. Direct evidence of the incorporation of Mn in the zeolite framework sites was observed by performing structure parameter refinements, supported by data collected from other characterization techniques such as IR, Raman, UV-vis, TGA, N2-adsorption, SEM, TEM, EDAX, and XPS. UV-vis spectra from the unique optical properties of Mn-ZSM-5 show two absorption peaks at 250 and 500 nm. The absorption varies in different atmospheres accompanied by a color change of the materials due to oxygen evolution. Raman spectra show a significant and gradual red shift from 383 cm(-1) to 372 cm(-1) when the doping amount of Mn is increased from 0 to 2 wt %. This suggests a weakened zeolite structural unit induced by the Mn substitution. The catalytic activity was studied in both gas-phase benzyl alcohol oxidation and toluene oxidation reactions with remarkable oxidative activity presented for the first time. These reactions result in a 55% yield of benzaldehyde, and 65% total conversion of toluene to carbon dioxide for the 2% Mn-ZSM-5. Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) using CO in He demonstrates two reduction peaks: one between 300 and 500 °C and the other between 500 and 800 °C. The first reduction peak, due to manganese-activated oxidation sites shifted from higher temperature to lower temperature, and the peak intensity of CO2 rises when the dopant amount increases. For the first time, calculated photophysical properties of a model Mn(O-SiH3)4(-) compound, an Mn-embedded zeolite cluster, and model Mn oxides help to explain and interpret the diffuse reflectance spectroscopy of Mn-ZSM-5 zeolites.