The rates of reactions for nine 9-substituted fluorenyl anions, 9-G-Fl-(G= CN, C02Me, PhS02, PhS, Ph, PhO, PhCH2, Me, t-Bu), reacting with benzyl chloride in Me2S0 solution have been measured. For 9-CN-Flthe rates increased with solvent in the order N- methylpyrrolidin-2-one (NMP)< Me2S0< MeOH< EtOH< t-BuOH. Ely the introduction of substituents into the 2-and 2, 7-position (s) of the fluorene ring for 9-CO2Me-F1-and 9-Me- ...