The title compound is prepared from the direct reaction of Pt-2(dba)(3) (dba = dibenzylideneacetone) and [Au(PPh3)(2)](PF6) in the presence of 1,8-diisocyano-p-methane (dmb), with Pt-2(dmb)(2)Cl-2, [Pt-4(dmb)(4)(PPh3)(2)](PF6)(2), and (PPh3)AuCl being formed as parallel products. X-ray crystallography reveals the presence;of a quasi-linear PPh3Au-AuPPh3 fragment encapsulated inside a "Pt-2(dmb)(2)(2+)" ring which is axially coordinated with two PPh3 ligands. The d(AuAu) is 2.5977(6) Angstrom and is indicative of a strong Au-Au single bond. The IR nu(CN) data reveal that the Pt oxidation state is I, which places the Au oxidation state at 0. The PtAu distances are 2.8422(5) and 2.8082(5) Angstrom. The Raman-active nu(Au-2), nu(PtAu) (b(2g) + a(g)), nu(PtP), nu(AuP), and nu(PtC) are found at 121.2, similar to 100, 85.5, 162.1, 183.1, and 457.2, and 440.9 cm(-1), respectively. The PtAu (0.67 mdyn Angstrom(-1)) and Au-2 (1.21 mdyn Angstrom(-1)) force constants (F) confirm the presence of medium PtAu and strong Au-2 bonding interactions. The absorption spectra are characterized by strong bands at lambda(max) (epsilon, M-1 cm(-1)) at 316 (32 300), 366 (37 800), and 418 nm (21 500) and lower intensity features at 516 (2860) and 655 nm (834). The cluster is luminescent at low temperatures (solid and frozen glasses), and in the solid state at room temperature, and exhibits an emission band at similar to 875 nm, and an emission lifetime, tau(e), of 4.4 +/- 0.4 ns (solvent = butyronitrile, T = 77 K).