The reaction of (E)-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)diphosphene with Ru-3(CO)(12) results in cleavage of the P=P bond with concomitant C-H activation of one of the t-butyl groups to form Ru-3(mu-H)(2)(CO)(8)(mu-P-C6H2-2,4-Bu-t(2)-6-CMe2CH2)(2). The H-atoms have transferred from the ligand to the metal core. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.