The electronic absorption and emission spectroscopy of a series of diphenylaceylene‐ and (buta‐1,3‐diyne)‐Pt0 complexes (L)Pt[(1,2‐η2)‐R–(C≡C)n–R] and [(dppp)Pt]2[μ‐(1,2‐η2):(3,4‐η2)‐R–(C≡C)2–R] {R = Ph or CH3, L = dppp or(PPh3)2, n = 1 or 2} was investigated. The structures of(dppp)Pt[(1,2‐η2)‐Ph–C≡C–Ph], (dppp)Pt[(1,2‐η2)‐PhC4Ph] and [(dppp)Pt]2[μ‐(1,2‐η2):(3,4‐η2)‐Ph–(C≡C)2–Ph] were characterized by X‐ray diffraction. The complexes all display intense absorptions that were attributed to Pt→P(dπ*) and Pt→acetylene(πx*) transitions. Except for the CH3C4CH3 complexes, the complexes all exhibit two emissions at 380–550 nm and 500–800 nm. The higher energy emission could arise from the 3[P(dπ*)→Pt] transition, and the lower energy emission, which has a longer lifetime than the higher energy one, was attributed to the 3[acetylene(πx*)→Pt] transition. The energy of the MLCT absorption and emission was affected by the electronic properties of the acetylenes and the ancillary phosphanes. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)