The bis-phosphine compounds M(PBu3t)(2), M = Pd and Pt, readily eliminate one PBU3t ligand and transfer MPBU3t groups to the ruthenium -ruthenium bonds in the compounds RU3(CO)(12), RU6(CO)(17-)(mu(6)-C), and Ru-6(CO)(14)(eta(6)-C6H6)(mu(6)-C) without displacement of any of the ligands on the ruthenium complexes. The new compounds, RU3(CO)(12)[Pd(PBU3t)](3), 10, and RU6(CO)(17)(mu(6)-C)[Pd(PBU3t)(2), 11, RU6(CO)(17)(mu(6)-C)-[Pt(PBU3t)(n), n = 1 (12), n = 2 (13), and Ru-6(CO)(14) (eta(6)_C6H6)(mu(6)-C)[Pd(PBU3t)(n), n = 1 (15), n = 2 (16), have been prepared and structurally characterized. In most cases the MPBU3t groups bridge a pair of mutually bonded ruthenium atoms, and the associated Ru-Ru bond distance increases in length. Fenske-Hall calculations were performed on 10 and 11 to develop an understanding of the electron deficient metal metal bonding. 10 undergoes a Jahn-Teller distortion to increase bonding interactions between neighboring Ru(CO)(4) and Pd(PBU3t) fragments. 11 has seven molecular orbitals important to cluster bonding in accord with cluster electron-counting rules.