Confacial bi-octahedral [Ru-2(mu-Cl)(3)(AsMe(2)Ph)(6)]CF3-SO3, (1), an
d [Ru-2(mu-Br)(3)(AsMe(3))6]CF3(S)O(3), (2), are the first tertiary-ar
sine-capped systems within the wider class of redox-active [L(3)Ru(mu-
X)(3)RuL(3)](+/2+) complexes (L = NR(3), PR(3) or AsR(3); X = Cl or Br
) to be structurally characterized. Compounds (1) and (2) have measure
d internuclear separations and mean bridgehead angles (Ru-II...Ru-II/R
u--X--Ru) of 3.275 (2)/83.5 and 3.413 (1) Angstrom/81.8 degrees, respe
ctively.