Hydrochloric Acid → 9-(hydroxymethyl)-9H-fluorene-2-carboxylic acid

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Reaction Steps

2-Carboxy-9-formylfluorene (2.77 g, 0.012 mole) and distilled water (110 mL) were added to a round bottom flask. Sodium borohydride (8.65 g, 0.228 mole) was added slowly to the reaction solution. After approximately twenty minutes additional sodium borohydride (8.65 g, 0.228 mol) was added. After approximately 16 hours at room temperature, 1 M hydrochloric acid was added until the pH of the solution was approximately 2. The product was filtered and rinsed with distilled water. The 2-carboxy-9-hydroxymethylfluorene was dried under reduced pressure with either phosphorus pentoxide or drierite present. NMR confirmed the structure by the disappearance of the aldehyde proton and the appearance of a multiplet (three protons) centered at δ4.05 ppm, which is consistent with the proton at C-9 and the methylene of the hydroxymethyl group.

Provenance & Evidence