The solution and solid state structures of two octahedral Ru(II) complexes, cis,cis,cis-RuCl2(Me(2)SO)(2)(py)(Me(3-)Bzm) (Me(3)Bzm = 1,5,6-trimethylbenzimidazole, py = pyridine) (1) and cis,cis,cis-RuCl2(Me(2)SO)(2)(Me(3)Bzm)(2) (2), were compared. 2, the subject of a preliminary report, is described in more detail here. 1 has two possible geometric isomers with py trans to Cl in one (position "a") and trans to Me(2)SO in the other (position "b"), Me(3)Bzm occupying the other position in each isomer. The X-ray structure of 1 revealed that py is at "a"). Since Me(3)Bzm is lopsided, each Me(3)Bzm has two possible orientations related by a rotation of similar to 180 degrees about the Ru-N3 bond; there are two possible atropisomers for each geometric isomer of 1 and four for 2.