The title compound was synthesized by reaction of the elemental components in a corundum crucible at 1450 ºC, and subsequent crystal growth using the Bridgman technique. The crystal structure of Yb 2 Al 15 Pt 6 was determined from X-ray single crystal diffraction data: space group Cmcm, Pearson symbol oS92, a = 12.7969(1) Å, b = 7.38813(7) Å, c = 16.3605(2) Å, R F = 0.036 for 1455 observed structure factors and 65 variable parameters. The title compound crystallizes in a new type of structure, which represents an ordered variety of the Sc 1.2 Fe 4 Si 9.8 aristotype. The structure can be described as an (ABB) 2 stacking of two trigonal layers with compositions Yb 4 Al 6 (A) and Pt 6 Al 12 (B). The layers A are almost planar and consist of ytterbium atoms arranged at the apexes of condensed hexagons centered by triangular Al 3 units. The slabs B may be considered as distorted hexagonal close-packed, similar to three adjacent layers I− − − −Cd− − − −I of the structure type CdI 2 (Al− − − −Pt− − − −Al). The structural particularities of Yb 2 Al 15 Pt 6 are discussed in comparison with the related structures of Y 2 Ga 9 Co 3 , Tb 2 Ge 3 Pt 9 , Yb 2 Ga 9 Pd 3 and Er 4 Al 24 Pt 9. A real-space analysis of the chemical bonding with the electron-localizability approach showed that the crystal structure of Yb 2 Al 15 Pt 6 consists of an anionic Al− − − −Pt framework, with Yb cations embedded in cavities. The Al− − − −Pt interactions within the framework are covalent polar, whereas ionic bonding is observed between ytterbium and the framework.