Lithiated carbons containing heteroatom

When a heteroatom, such as N, O, or a halogen, is present in a molecule containing an aromatic ring or a double bond, lithiation is usually quite regio-selective. The lithium usually bonds with the sp carbon closest to the hetero atom, probably because the attacking species coordinates with the hetero atom. Such reactions with compounds such as anisole are often called directed metala-tions. In the case of aromatic rings, this means attack at the ortho position.Two examples are... 

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