Interference of two adjacent methoxy groups as promoters of arene metallation

摘要

Two adjacent methoxy groups on a benzene ring reinforce each other as promoters of ortho-lithiation; the lower ease of metallation of veratrole with repect to anisole, observed in one special case, can be explained by the deactivation of the substrate upon formation of a chelate species with the lithium atom of the metallating agent.