Syntheses, structure characterisation and X-ray studies of some mono, di- and tri-substituted cluster complexes of Ru3(CO)12 substituted by bulky fluorinated phosphine ligands

► Five trinuclear substituted complexes Ru3(CO)12−nLn [n = 1, 2, 3] were synthesised. ► All complexes having F-substituted phosphine ligands. ► The clusters were analysed by IR, 1H, 13C and 31P NMR spectroscopy and XRD studies. ► 13C NMR study of all complexes showed a single peak for CO exhibiting fluxionality. ► In Ru3(CO)10{P(C6H4F-p)3}2 complex, twisting of the Ru(CO)4 unit is observed.