Lithiation reactions of tertiary benzylic esters and carbamates have been studied. Kinetic methodology revealed that a two-step reaction pathway should be considered for these reactions, where either the lithium precomplexation and/or the proton transfer steps can be rate determining. Kinetic isotopic effects were evaluated by comparison of the lithiations of the corresponding protio/deutero substrates, and the results obtained support the notion that lithium precomplexation is taking place on the reaction pathway and that it is the rate-determining step in this transformation.
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