The concomitant presence of an alkoxyalkyl group (a-alkoxyalkyl, cy-or 6-dialkoxyakyl) and of an alkoxy group in the relative positions 1 and 3 in a benzene ring generally permits an easy lithiation of position 2 by proton-metal exchange with n-butyllithium; the only aromatic compound tested, bearing a 0-alkoxyalkyl group, gave, however, extensive decomposition in the metalation step. Reaction of the metalated species with an electrophile (such as ...