Synthesis of 9,9′-Bis(methoxymethyl)fluorene

This paper describes the procedures for the facile synthesis of 9,9′-bis(methoxymethyl)fluorene using fluorene as starting material. By hydroxymethylation and etherification reaction, the fluorene can be converted to desired products with high yield and purity. The optimum conditions of the synthetic procedures were determined. For hydroxymethylation, the reaction temperature was 13 ℃and the mole ratio of sodium methoxide to paraformaldehyde was 0.26; and for etherification, the reaction temperature was 40 ℃and the reaction time was 15 h. Under the optimum conditions, an overall yield of 580% and purity of 99.2% were obtained.