Fluorene dissolving metals

In a vessel for electrolysis three parallel nickel plates were installed. The inner nickel plate was the working electrode (anode), and the two outer nickel plates were counter electrodes (cathode). A 1.2 liter mixture consisting of fluorene (0.01 mol) and LiPFs (0.1 mol) dissolved in propylene carbonate were then added to the vessel. The three nickel plates were immersed in the mixture to a depth of 90 mm. Two lithium metal sheets were used as reference electrodes, with each sheet placed between the anode and the cathode. The electrolysis was carried out by a potential-sweep method for 4 hours under a potential width of 4.5 to 6.7 V with a sweep time of 50 mV/s. The inner... 

A procedure better adapted to operation on a large scale is described by Bavin. A solution of 1 mole of fluorene in 500 ml. of ether is added with stirring under reflux to an ethereal solution of phenyllithium prepared from 1.5 moles of bromo-benzene. After 1 hr. more the orange solution of metallated hydrocarbon is poured as rapidly as possible into powdered dry ice which has been slurried with ether. The mixture is acidified, the solvent removed by steam distillation, and the solid is dissolved in aqueous potassium carbonate solutioa Clarification with Norit gives a pale yellow solution which is poured into excess 30% hydrochloric acid. The colorless, crystalline product on reaction with methanol and hydrogen chloride gave the pure methyl ester, m.p. 64-65°. The yield was generally over 70% and occasionally reached 90%. ... 

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