Fluorene-9-carboxylic acid is a precursor to pharmaceuticals. Oxidation of fluorene gives fluorenone, which is nitrated to give commercially useful derivatives. 9-Fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (Fmoc chloride) is used to introduce the 9-fluorenylmethyl carbamate (Fmoc) protecting group on amines in peptide synthesis.

Fluorenes are one of the most important fluorescent molecules with applications in polymers, electronic devices, sensors, and photochromic materials

It is insoluble in water and soluble in many organic solvents. Although sometimes classified as a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, the five-membered ring has no aromatic properties. Fluorene is mildly acidic.

Fluorene is an ortho-fused tricyclic hydrocarbon that is a major component of fossil fuels and their derivatives It is an ortho-fused polycyclic arene and an ortho-fused tricyclic hydrocarbon.

FLUORENE FOR SYNTHESIS