Crystal and molecular structure of tetrabenzylzirconium at –40 °C

Abstract

The crystal structure of tetrabenzylzirconium (at –40 °C) shows the molecule to have approximate symmetry with distorted tetrahedral co-ordination (average Zr–C 2·27 Å); the benzyl groups are σ-bonded to the metal atom but the angles at the methylene carbon atoms are unexpectedly small, ranging from 85° to 101°.