Structural, spectroscopic and redox studies of trans-[RuX~2L~4]^0^/^+ (L= PR~3, AsR~3 or SbR~3; X = Cl, Br or I). Crystal structures of trans-[RuX~2(EMe~2Ph)~4] (X = Br, E = Sb; X = I, E = As), [Ru~2Br~5(SbMe~2Ph)~4] and [Ru~2I~3-(PMe~2Ph)~6][CF~3SO~3]