To a solution of 2,7-dibromo-9-(bis-methylsulfanyl-methylene)fluorene (5.1 g, 12 mmol) in dry THF (100 ml) at 0° C. under nitrogen, was added a solution of lithium tetrachlorocuprate (5 ml of a 0.1 M solution in THF, 5 mol %). A solution of octylmagnesium bromide (13 ml of a 2.0M solution in diethyl ether, 0.026 mol) was added dropwise over 30 min. The reaction was stirred for 2 h at 5° C. The reaction was cooled to 0° C. and further lithium tetrachlorocuprate (1 ml of a 0.1M solution in THF, 1 mol %) was added. The reaction was then stirred for 24 h at 15° C., before quenching and workup as above. Yield (60%). Purity (HPLC>99%). 1H and 13C NMR spectra as expected. M+=560 (t).
