• Lithiation gives a highly-hindered, non-nucleophilic strong base; see, e.g. Org. Synth. Coll., 6, 571 (1988);9, 426 (1998); Tetrahedron, 50, 3099 (1994). For use in selective isomerization of epoxides to aldehydes, see: J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 2103 (1994). For a study of the influence of TMEDA and related chelating ligands on the solution structure of the lithiated base, see: J. Org. Chem., 62, 5748 (1997). The Mg derivative, obtained by reaction with n-BuMgCl, is also an effective strong base which has been used in the regioselective ortho-metallation of pyridine carbamates and carboxamides: J. Org. Chem., 60,8414 (1995).