Fluorene can be alkylated in the 9-position with alcohols, using alkali metal hydroxide as catalyst. If the alkylating agents are diols, 9-(hydroxyalky1) fluorenes as well as bis (9- fluoreny1) alkanes are obtained as products. Products of the reaction of fluorene with several alcohols and diols are described, as are a number of derivatives of bis (9-fluoreny1) alkanes. The alkylation reaction is also applicable to indene, which is alkylated in the 1- ...
