Deacetoxylation of the oxo-centered triruthenium acetate cluster by acetyl chloride or triethylsilyl chloride led to the formation of a versatile precursor [Ru3O(OAc)(5)(Cl)(4-methylpyridine)(2)(CNt-Bu)], whose chloro ligand was readily substituted by other bridging ligands, i.e. alkoxides, carboxylates or sulfides.