The first direct formation of an organolithium reagent on a soluble polymer by chlorine–lithium exchange: functionalised linear polystyrene

The lithiation of a soluble chloromethylated polystyrene 1 (prepared by AIBN-induced copolymerisation of styrene and 4-chloromethylstyrene in 3:1 molar ratio) with an excess of lithium powder and a catalytic amount (10%) of DTBB, and reaction with different electrophiles leads, after hydrolysis, to the expected functionalised polymers 2–8.