A superior procedure for generation of substituted benzyllithiums from the corresponding chlorides

The use of diethyl ether–tetrahydrofuran–light petroleum (b.p. 30–40 °C)(4:3:1) as solvent for the reaction of substituted benzyl chlorides with lithium naphthalenide at low temperature gives useful yields of the corresponding benzyllithium compounds, which react with electrophiles such as iodomethane and water to yield the expected reaction products