Tri­benzyl{η5‐[2‐(p‐tolyl)­prop‐2‐yl]­cyclo­penta­dienyl}­zirconium

The title compound, Zr(C₇H₇)₃(C₁₅H₁₇)], (I), crystallizes from light petroleum with two independent mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit. Whereas in the parent mol­ecule, Zr(η⁵‐C₅H₅)(CH₂Ph)₃, all three Zr—CH₂Ph angles are equal, in (I), they differ significantly. In spite of their different environments, both independent mol­ecules in (I) exhibit a small, an expected, and a large Zr—CH₂Ph angle. The angles are similar to those of the closely related tri­benzyl­η⁵‐(benzyl­di­methyl­silyl)­cyclo­penta­dienyl]­zirconium complex. The smallest Zr—CH₂Ph angle and the consequently relatively short Zr?C_ipso distance are indicative of η²‐bonding of the benzyl group.