First Regioselective C-2 Lithiation of 3- and 4-Chloropyridines

We have shown that the BuLi/LiDMAE reagent promotes the clean and regioselective C2 lithiation of 3- and 4-chloropyridines, while other reagents such as LDA or BuLi/TMEDA lead to classical ortho lithiation products or mixtures of regioisomers. The method was successfully applied to the preparation of various reactive 2,3- and 2,4-disubstituted pyridines.