Abstract: Reaction of lithium dialkylamide bases with a benzyl halide-3, 3-dimethylallene (1) mixture gave aryl carbenoid addition products via deprotonation of the benzyl halide. Competing deprotonation of 1 also occurs giving 3, 3-dimethylallenyllithium (8). Products of reaction of 8 with benzyl halides were acetylenes (major) and allenes (minor) and were rationalized in terms of an electron transfer mechanism leading to the 3, 3-dimethylallenyl ...