Presented　herein　are　the　synthesis,　structure,　and　optical　properties　of　a　novel　aluminum-bismuth　heterometallic　coordination　compound.　[Al4Bi4(L)10(mu　4-O)2(sal)4(Hsal)2]　(L　=　benzyl　alcohol,　H2sal　=　salicylic　acid)　represents　the　highest　nuclearity　of　Al-Bi　based　cluster　compound.　This　compound　is　fully　characterized.　In　addition,　the　optical　limiting　mechanism　was　investigated　using　the　open-aperture　and　closed-aperture　techniques.　The　results　show　it　exhibits　obvious　reverse　saturation　absorption　(RSA)　response.