2-Alkyltrinitrofluoren-9-ones 2 were conveniently synthesized by controlled nitration of 2- alkylfluoren-9-ones 5 with a mixture of red fuming HNO3 and concentrated H2SO4 at 0-25° C. The precursors 5 were derived from the corresponding 2-acylfluorenes by appropriate reduction of the acyl function, followed by base-catalysed O2-oxidation at the C-9 position. The regiochemistry of nitration was interesting: with a sterically bulky substituent in 5, ...
