Halogen-lithium exchange reactions aryl substituents

In principle, each of the above protodelithiation reactions is in equilibrium. It is clear that, in practice, they are not. The protonating species, HBr, isopropanol and 2-butanol, are simply too acidic for the reaction to be reversible. Although the hydrogen/lithium exchange equilibria cannot be smdied in both directions, halogen/Uthium exchange reactions with aryl substituents evidently are true equilibrium processes. Winkler and Winkler studied reaction 11 (among others), in either diethyl ether or in THF at 25 °C. 

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