Near-infrared luminescence with resolved vibronic structure between 700 and 1200 nm has been observed from the title compound at 15 K. Its emitting state is lower in energy by more than 3000 cm(-1) than those in other trans-dioxo compounds of rhenium(V). The vibrational modes forming the resolved structure are the totally symmetric Re-O and Re-N(imidazole) stretching vibrations. The intensity distribution within the vibronic progressions can be rationalized only qualitatively with a harmonic model (coupling = 0 in the diagram), but it is quantitatively calculated by including nonzero coupling between the normal coordinates for the metal-ore and metal-imidazole vibrational modes, an effect observed and analyzed for the first time in a coordination compound.