Benzyl radicals, generated by the pyrolysis of dibenzylmercury, react with fluorene to give 9-benzylfluorene, 9,9-dibenzylfluorene, and 9,9′-bifluorenyl. Phenyl radicals, generated by the pyrolysis of diphenylmercury, react with fluorene to give 9-phenylfluorene and 9,9′-bifluorenyl. Homolytic benzylation of pyrene gives 1-benzylpyrene and 1,1′-bipyrenyl.

The mechanisms of the formation of the products are discussed.