Fluorenone Column Chromatography

In this experiment, column chromatography and thin layer chromatography were used to separate a mixture of fluorene and 9-fluorenone. These two methods were then compared, and the results were analyzed. In column chromatography, 0.1010 g of mixture was separated. During the separation, fluorene eluted first. This compound was white in color once dried with the rotary evaporator. A percent yield of 93.47% was calculated for fluorene. The product that eluted first was confirmed to be fluorene by the IR spectrum obtained and the experimental melting point. The IR spectrum RM-02-CC1 was the spectrum obtained for this compound. Aromatic carbon- hydrogen bonds, carbon-carbon double bonds and hydrogens attached to sp2 carbons were shown by peaks 3038

The IR spectrum RM-02-CC2 was obtained. The spectrum consisted of a carbonyl peak, an aromatic carbon-carbon double bond peak, and a sp2 hybridized carbon and hydrogen bond peak at 1713, 1598, and 734. These functional groups are all present in 9-flourenone. The carbonyl group specifically was important because fluorenone was the only that contained a carbonyl group. The Identity was further confirmed by the melting point, 79-80˚C. This value is similar to the known value 84˚C2. The melting point observed during the experiment is greater than the known because the sample is slightly impure. This impurity is caused by presence of fluorene on the tip of the columns. As stated before, the tip of the column needs to be manage to ensure pure products. The presence of fluorene would increase the temperature as seen in the melting point results because the melting point of this compound is greater than fluorenone. Overall, both compounds were separated with column chromatography and presented reasonable yields for both products. Column chromatography is a useful technique to separate mixtures with both large and small quantities. Unlike TLC, column chromatography and be used for large amounts of