New hexa‐coordinated binuclear Ru(III) Schiff base complexes of the type {[(B)₂X₂Ru]₂L} (where B = PPh₃ or AsPh₃; X = Cl or Br; L = binucleating N₂O₂ Schiff bases) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurement, FT‐IR, UV–vis, ¹³C{¹H}‐NMR, ESR at 300 and 77 K, cyclic voltammetric technique, powder X‐ray diffraction pattern and SEM. The new complexes were used as catalysts in phenyl–phenyl coupling reaction and the oxidation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyl compounds using molecular oxygen atmosphere at room temperature. Further, the new Schiff base ligands and their Ru(III) complexes were also screened for their antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae, Shigella sp., M. luteus, E. coli and S. typhi. From this study, it was found that the activity of the ruthenium(III) Schiff base complexes almost reaches the effectiveness of the conventional bacteriocide standards. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.