New stabilising groups for lateral lithiation of ortho-cresol derivatives and a new route to 2-substituted chromans

2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)-toluene and 2-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)-toluene have been lithiated using sec-BuLi under a variety of conditions and the laterally lithiated species trapped with electrophiles, including but-1-ene oxide, leading to a new synthesis of 2-ethylchroman.