Abstract In the presence of palladium (II) acetate [Pd (OAc) 2] and an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand, fluorene derivatives can be generated in good to excellent yields from 2-halo- 2′-methylbiaryls through the benzylic C [BOND] H bond activation (14 examples; 81–97% yields). The scope and limitations of this protocol have been examined. A wide range of functional groups, such as alkyl, alkoxy, ester, nitrile, and others, is able to tolerate the ...