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I'm not positive about the correct mechanism, but I can propose one that seems plausible. Oxygen can exist as a singlet or triplet species. The triplet species (O-O with 2 lone pairs and a radical on each O) is the ground state species, so unless O2 is excited, it will most likely react in this manner.

Using that assumption, O2 can abstract a proton radical from flourene to form a fluorene radical (with the radical at the benzylic position). This is the initiation of a radical chain process. Next, the peroxy radical can attach to the fluorene radical (thus terminating the chain). Alternatively, another O2 molecule can attach to the fluorene radical. This peroxy fluroene radical can abstract a proton from a fluorene molecule, propogating a fluorene radical. In either case, the resulting species is a peroxy fluorene molecule. Now, you can draw a mechanism where a hydroxide anion (the reaction is run in base) pulls off the remaining benzylic proton, pushing electrons into a carbon to oxygen pi bond, and breaking the oxygen-oxygen single bond to release hydroxide.

As I said, I have no evidence for this mechanism, just using my chemical knowledge and experience.

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Q: Mechanism of oxidation of fluorene to fluorenone?
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Related questions

Which is more polar fluorene or florenone?

Florenone is more polar than fluorene because it has a ketone group, which is more electronegative than the carbon atoms in fluorene. The presence of the ketone group increases the polarity of the molecule by creating a dipole moment.


Why does fluorene move faster down the column chromatography than fluorenone?

Fluorene is less polar than fluorenone, so it interacts less strongly with the polar stationary phase of the column chromatography. This results in fluorene moving more quickly down the column than fluorenone, which has stronger interactions with the stationary phase.


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Fluorenone is more polar than ferrocene.Ferrocene is non-polar due to its symmetry.


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Why does fluorenone travel in methylene chloride?

Fluorenone is soluble in methylene chloride due to its nonpolar nature. Methylene chloride is a nonpolar solvent, which allows nonpolar compounds like fluorenone to dissolve well in it through London dispersion forces.


What has the author Marlyn Homer Bortner written?

Marlyn Homer Bortner has written: 'The crystal structure and molecular structure of fluorene' -- subject(s): Fluorene


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