CH3Li in tetrahydrofuran; diethyl ether byproducts: 1,1-bifluorenyl, LiBr; soln. of MeLi in Et2O added to soln. of fluorene in tetrahydrofuran and stirred at ambient temp. for 2 h; transfered to soln. of ((C5(CH3)5)OsBr(μ-Br))2 in tetrahydrofuran; stirred under Ar in Schlenk techniques at ambient temp. for 18 h; volatiles removed under reduced pressure; excess fluorene removed by sublimation at 50°C (0.1 Torr); residue sublimed at 110°C (0.1 Torr); elem. anal.;