New class of trianionic constrained geometry ligands: Representative complexes of zirconium

•New ligands comprised of a bis(indolyl)methane tethered to fluorene or indene.•Bidentate ligand coordination to zirconium via two deprotonated indolides.•η5-Indenyl and bidentate ligand coordination in a constrained geometry complex.•The new family of ligands has potential applications in homogeneous catalysis.