([eta]5-Indenyl)bis([eta]2-ethylene)iridium(I)

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Ir(C9H7)(C2H4)2], consists of two independent molecules. The bonding between iridium and the five-membered ring of the indenyl ligand shows the usual asymmetry associated with the typical ring slippage responsible for the enhanced activity of indenyl metal compounds when compared with the analogous cyclopentadienyl metal compound. There are three short Ir-C bonds of 2.210 (3), 2.190 (4) and 2.220 (3) Å and two long Ir-C bonds to the C atoms that are part of the fused six-membered ring of 2.349 (4) and 2.366 (3) Å for one of the independent molecules [2.208 (4), 2.222 (3), 2.197 (4) Å for the short distances and 2.371 (3) and 2.358 (3) Å for the long distances in the second molecule]. This results in both indenyl ligands being slightly kinked, with dihedral angles of 6.8 (4)° and 6.5 (4)°.