The title compounds trans-M-2(O2CMe)(2)[C((PrN)-Pr-i)(2)C equivalent to C-Ph](2), I (M = Mo) and II (M = W), show electronic absorptions in the visible region of the spectrum assignable to (MLCT)-M-1 [M-2 delta to phenylethynylamidinate pi*). These compounds show dual emission from SI and T-1 states. For both I and II, S-1 is (MLCT)-M-1, but for I the T-1 state is shown to be MM delta delta* while for II T-1 is (MLCT)-M-3. The lifetimes of the S-1 and T-1 states have been determined by femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy: for I S-1 similar to 20 Ps and T-1 similar to 100 mu s and for II S-1 similar to 6 Ps and T-1 similar to 5 mu s. From solvent dependence of the absorption and emission spectra, we suggest that the S-1 states are localized on one amidinate ligand though the initial absorption is to a delocalized state.