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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

A Protocol for Safe Lithiation Reactions Using Organolithium Reagents
Published on: November 12, 2016
Facile O-deallylation of allyl ethers via S(N)2' reaction with tert-butyllithium
1Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269-3060, USA. bailey@uconn.edu
Abstract:
[reaction: see text] Allylic ethers are converted to the corresponding alcohol or phenol in virtually quantitative yield at temperatures below ambient simply by stirring a hydrocarbon solution of the ether with 1 molar equiv of tert-butyllithium. The reaction, which produces 4,4-dimethyl-1-pentene as a coproduct, most likely involves an S(N)2' attack of the organolithium on the allyl ether.
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