Abstract We have shown that the BuLi/LiDMAE reagent promotes the clean and regioselective C2 lithiation of 3-and 4-chloropyridines, while other reagents such as LDA or BuLi/TMEDA lead to classical ortho lithiation products or mixtures of regioisomers. The method was successfully applied to the preparation of various reactive 2, 3-and 2, 4- disubstituted pyridines.
