A class of luminescent gold(III) compounds with a tridentate ligand and at least one strong .sigma.-donating group having the chemical structure represented by the general formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein R.sub.1-R.sub.4 each independently represent the group containing hydrogen, halogen, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, alkoxyl, substituted alkoxyl, amino, substituted amino, cyano, nitro, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, mono- or dialkylaminocarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, aryloxy, alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyloxy group, and the like; X, Y and Z each independently represent a heteroatom or a carbon; ##STR00002## represents an aromatic or heterocyclic 5- or 6-membered ring; .alpha. and .beta. each independently represent a bridge for an aromatic or heterocyclic 5- or 6-membered ring or represent a break for non-cyclic moiety; C--X, C--Y and C--Z each independently represent a single bond or double bond; n represents a zero or an integer; p, q and r represent positive integers.