The reactions of [Au(ppy)Cl-2] (Hppy: 2-phenylpyridine) with D-penicillamine (D-H(2)pen) and L-cysteine (L-H(2)cys) in a 1:1 ratio gave mononuclear gold(M) complexes, [Au(ppy)(D-pen-N,S)] and [Au(ppy)(L-cys-N,S)], respectively, which were both structurally characterized to have a square-planar cis(N)-CN2S geometry. While the L-cys complex was nonemissive, the D-pen complex was found to exhibit orange emission in the solid state.