Metalations utilizing aryllithiums; ortho-functionalization of p-bromoanisole (pBrA)

An ortho-metalation protocol has been developed, which permits the survival of a bromine substituent in p-bromoanisole. Eight derivatives of the generated ortho-lithiated intermediate have been prepared. A neglected metalation concept is being explored here; one which proposes that minimizing the pKa difference between the aryl substrate and the conjugate acid of the metalating agent will lead to a regiospecific and selective metalation process.