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 tri­benzyl­[η⁵-(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.