• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 1997

The intramolecular cyclization of 1,1-bis-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethane was shown to take place upon anodic oxidation at carbon electrodes in acetonitrile or in a solvent-mixture containing dichloromethane, trifluoroacetic acid(TFA). Yields are low in the former solvent due to the fact that the cyclized product (9-methyl-2,3,6,7-tetramethoxyfluorene) is more easily oxidized than it's precursor and the oxidation product is not stable. In the presence of TFA, the cation radical derived from the oxidation of the cyclized product is stabilized thus, after reduction may be isolated with better yields.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.196-200
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• 1999

The electrochemical properties of 9-methyl-2,3,6,7-tetramethoxyfluorene have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry in acetonitrile, dichloromethane, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and trifluoroacetic acid anhydride (TFAn). The first charge transfer for the compound in $CH_3CN$ appeared to be a quasi-reversible one-electron step. The second oxidation step from cation to dication was irreversible. However, the oxdition of the compound in a mixture of solvents containing $CH_2Cl_2$, TFA and TFAn was reversible for both the first and second charge transfer reactions. Since the electrolytic products display a darkblue color and can be stabilized in the solvent mixture, they may be used as an electrochromic material.