A series of new binuclear Ru(III) complexes of the type {[RuX 3 (EPh 3 )] 2 (bis-b-dk)} [X = Cl/Br; E = P/ As bis-b-dk = bis(b-diketone)] have been prepared by reacting [RuCl 3 (PPh 3 ) 3 ], [RuCl 3 (AsPh 3 ) 3 ], [RuBr 3 (PPh 3 ) 3 ],[RuBr 3 (AsPh 3 ) 3 ] with bis(b-diketones) in a 2:1 molar ratio in benzene. These complexes have been characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. The redox property of the complexes were studied by cyclic voltammetric technique. The complexes were found to be effective catalysts for the aryl-aryl coupling and oxidation of benzyl alcohol, cyclohexanol, propan-1-ol and 2-methylpropanol to benzaldehyde, cyclohexanone, propionaldehyde and 2-methylpropionaldehyde, respectively, using molecular oxygen as primary oxidant. All the complexes have been screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities.