The formation of products 2, 3 and 4 (a–l) from both the reaction of η2-benzophenone zirconocene 1 with alkyl halides and the thermolysis of the α-(Cp2ZrCl)-substituted benzhydrylmethylether 9, the latter proceeding with anchimeric assistance of the metal, can be understood assuming a stepwise reaction path through radical intermediates. The proposed intermediate transition-metal benzophenone ketyl 12 exhibits a reaction pattern ...