Neutral binuclear ruthenium complexes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 of the general formula [{RuCl2(η6‐p‐cym)}2 μ‐(N∩N)] (N∩N = bis(nicotinate)‐ and bis(isonicotinate)‐polyethylene glycol esters: (3‐py)COO(CH2CH2O)nCO(3‐py) and (4‐py)COO(CH2CH2O)nCO(4‐py), n =1–4), as well as mononuclear [RuCl2(η6‐p‐cym)((3‐py)COO(CH2CH2OCH3)‐κN)], complex 9, were synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis and electrospray ionization high‐resolution mass spectrometry, infrared, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopies. Stability of the binuclear complexes in the presence of dimethylsulfoxide was studied. Furthermore, formation of a cationic complex containing bridging pyridine‐based bidentate ligand was monitored using 1H NMR spectroscopy. Ligand precursors, polyethylene glycol esters of nicotinic (L1 · 2HCl–L4 · 2HCl and L9 · HCl) and isonicotinic acid dihydrochlorides (L5 · 2HCl–L8 · 2HCl), binuclear ruthenium(II) complexes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and mononuclear complex 9 were tested for in vitro cytotoxicity against 518A2 (melanoma), 8505C (anaplastic thyroid cancer), A253 (head and neck tumour), MCF‐7 (breast tumour) and SW480 (colon carcinoma) cell lines. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.