Synthesis of 4, 5-Dialkylfluorenes

5-Ethylfluorene-4-acetic acid was obtained by converting 5-ethylfluorcnone-4-carboxylic acid into corresponding 4-acetic acid followed by two-steps reduction of the latter. Attempted Arndt-Eistert reaction of 5-ethylfluorene-4-carboxylic acid in the usual manner gave only a resinous product which did not dissolve in alkali.