Abstract Reactions of zirconocene-alkene complexes Cp 2 Zr (CH 2 CHR)(PR′ 3)(R H, Me, Et, SiR ″3 or Ar) with aldehydes or ketones were investigated. Zirconocene-ethylene,- propylene or 1-butene complexes reacted with aldehydes or ketones at terminal carbons of alkenes to give the corresponding alcohols after hydrolysis with a high regioselectivity. A similar type of reaction product was also obtained by a reaction of zirconacyclopentanes ...