The corresponding organoboron and organoaluminum compounds were already known, but these are air-sensitive and/or pyrophoric whereas organozirconium compounds are not.
ðə kˌɔːɹɪspˈɑːndɪŋ ɔːɹɡˌænoʊbˈoːɹɑːn ænd ɔːɹɡˌænoʊɐlˈuːmɪnəm kˈɑːmpaʊndz wɜːɹ ɔːlɹˌɛdi nˈoʊn, bˌʌt ðiːz ɑːɹ ˈɛɹsˈɛnsᵻtˌɪv ænd slˈæʃ ɔːɹ pˌaɪɹoʊfˈoːɹɪk wˈɛɹæz ɔːɹɡˌænoʊzɜːkˈoʊniəm kˈɑːmpaʊndz ɑːɹ nˈɑːt.