  New intercalation compounds Cr$_x$ZrTe$_2$ were synthesized in the Cr
concentration range of x=0-0.3. A thorough study of the crystal and electronic
structure has been performed. It was found that there is competition in the
distribution of the Cr atoms over the octa- and tetrahedral sites in the van
der Waals gap, depending on the Cr content. The ordering of the Cr atoms was
found at x = 0.25; at the same time, the lattice symmetry decreases from
trigonal P-3m1 to monoclinic F2/m. This ordering stabilizes the octahedral
coordination of the Cr atoms by Te atoms. The analysis of the experimental data
on the electronic structure and DOS calculations showed that the Cr 3d states
are spin-split.
