Methods of synthesizing phenanthrenequinone, 9-hydroxyfluorene-9-5 carboxylic acid (HFCA), methyl-9-hydroxyfluorene-carboxylate (HFCA methyl ester) and methyl-2-chloro-9-hydroxyfluorenecarboxylate, (Chlorflurenol) starting from preferred embodiment are disclosed. Several reaction products of phenanthrene are useful in industry, and are valuable plant growth regulators.

Methods of synthesizing phenanthrenequinone, 9-hydroxyfluorene-9-5 carboxylic acid (HFCA), methyl-9-hydroxyfluorene-carboxylate (HFCA methyl ester) and methyl-2-chloro-9-hydroxyfluorenecarboxylate, (Chlorflurenol) starting from preferred embodiment are disclosed. Several reaction products of phenanthrene are useful in industry, and are valuable plant growth regulators.