Fluorenone

Fluorenone is an organic compound with the chemical formula (C6H4)2CO. It is bright fluorescent yellow solid.

Synthesis and reactions
It is synthesised by aerobic oxidation of fluorene:
 * (C6H4)2CH2 + O2  ->  (C6H4)2CO  +  H2O

Fluorenone sustains up to four nitro groups giving 2,4,5,7-tetranitrofluorenone.

Applications
Several substituted fluorenones are biologically active as antibiotic, anticancer, antiviral, or neuromodulatory compounds.

Some substituted azafluorenones are biologically active, such as the naturally occurring antimicrobial compound onychine (1-methyl-4-azafluorenone). The compound 1,8-diazafluoren-9-one is used for fingerprint detection.