Reactions of OsO4 with excess of HSRF and PR3 in ethanol afford five-coordinate compounds [Os(SRF)(4)(PR3)] (R-F = C6F4H-4, R-3 = Ph-2(C6F5) (1); R-F = C6F4H-4. R-3 = (OPh)(3) (2); and R-F = C6F5, R-3 = (OPh)(3) (3)). Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of 1-3 exhibit a common pattern with an osmium center in a trigonal-bipyramidal coordination arrangement. Axial positions are occupied by mutually trans thiolate and phosphine or phosphite ligands, while the remaining three equatorial positions are occupied by thiolate ligands. In compound 1 the tetrafluorophenyl rings of the equatorial ligands are directed away from the axial phosphine ligand in a "3-up" arrangement. In contrast, a "2-up, 1-down" arrangement was found in compounds 2 and 3, where only two of the fluorinated rings from the equatorial thiolates are directed towards the axial thiolate, while the fluorinated substituent of the third equatorial thiolate is directed towards the phosphine ligand. Structural characterization in solution by H-1, P-31{H-1} and F-19 NMR, variable temperature and COSY F-19-F-19 NMR studies are discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.