The reaction of Cp*2ZrMe2 with [CPh3][B(C6F5)4]: triphenylethane does not form ηn-arene complexes with [Cp*2ZrMe]+

In response to a recent paper concerning the formation of a putative arene complex, [Cp*2Zr(CH3)η-C6H5C(C6H5)2CH3][B(C6F5)4] from the reaction of Cp*2ZrMe2 with [CPh3][B(C6F5)4] in CD2Cl2 at −78 °C, we present data showing that this reaction leads in fact to a mixture of [(Cp*2ZrMe)2(μ-Me)][B(C6F5)4] and [Cp*2ZrMe⋯B(C6F5)4], while NMR signals attributed to η-arene coordination of triphenylethane are due to unreacted CPh3+ (Cp*=η-C5Me5).