12.3 cm3 (30.7 mmol) of a 2.5 molar hexane solution of n-butyllithium were slowly added to a solution of 5.10 g (30.7 mmol) of fluorene in 60 cm3 of tetrahydrofuran at room temperature. After 40 minutes, 7.07 g (30.7 mmol) of diphenylfulvene were added to the orange solution and the mixture was stirred overnight. 60 cm3 of water were added to the dark red solution, whereupon the solution became yellow in color, and the solution was extracted with ether. The ether phase was dried over MgSO4 and concentrated and the residue was left to crystallize at −35° C. 5.1 g (42%) of 1,1-cyclopentadienyl-(9-fluorenyl)diphenylmethane were obtained as a beige powder.
