Substituted fluorenones and fluorenes are interesting target molecules in organic synthesis. The 9H-fluoren-9-one skeleton occurs inter alia in a wide range of substrates, including marine sediments, 1 kerogen pyrolyzates, 2 weathered surface retorted oil shales, and Wilmington petroleum. 3 9H-Fluoren-9-ones are also known to function as photoinitiators in various photochemical reactions. 4, 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d Both 9H-fluoren-9-ones and 2-nitrofluorene behave as ...