Addition of PPh, to [Ru,H,(CO),(p,-COMe){Cu( PPh,)}] 1 results in rapid heteronuclear decapping to form the anion [Ru,H,(CO),(p,-COMe)]-. A similar reaction occurs for the silver analogue 2 with excess of PPh,. However a 1 : 1 reaction mixture affords [Ag(PPh,),] [{Ru,H,(CO),(~,-COM~)}~A~] 5, which is stable in solution at low temperatures. NMR evidence is consistent with the anion having C, symmetry in which an approximately tetrahedrally co-ordinated silver centre links the two triruthenium clusters by edge bridging to each cluster. Reaction of [Ru,H(CO),(p,-PPh){Ag( PPh,)}] 4 with PPh, (1 :1) affords an equilibrium mixture (at 173 K) of [Ru,H(CO),(p,-PPh)]-, 4, [Ag(PPh,),]+ (n = 3 and 4) and [{Ru,H(CO),(p,-PPh)},Ag] -. All these reactions are faster than the carbonyl substitution reactions which occur at room temperature.