9-Fluorene methanol is prone to single-molecule elimination reaction under strong alkaline conditions, losing one molecule of water and generating 9-methylene fluorene. 9-methylene fluorene is easy to polymerize to form an insoluble, resin-like polymer. The polymer encapsulates 9-fluorene methanol and is not easily separated from 9-fluorene methanol. In addition, 9-fluorene methanol can also undergo a bimolecular elimination reaction under alkaline conditions, losing one molecule of water and generating 9-(fluorenyl-9-methylene)-9-hydroxymethyl fluorene. During the synthesis of 9-fluorene methanol, attention should be paid to controlling the reaction conditions to avoid the formation of the above two by-products.
