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Gilman discovered that alkllithiums, for example t-butyllithium, were more adaptable in their reactivity than aryllithiums, which explains their widespread success in the modern chemical literature.

Gilman discovered that alkyllithiums, for example t-butyllithium, were more adaptable in their reactivity than aryllithiums, which explains their widespread success in the modern chemical literature.

As in many cases, the truth is both mechanisms compete with each other; of course which pathway, if any, dominates will depend on the solvent, temperature, substrate, and certainly the lithium species used.

As with many systems, the truth is both mechanisms compete with each other; of course which pathway, if any, dominates will depend on the solvent, temperature, substrate, and certainly the lithium species used.

Georg Wittig, discoverer of the Wittig reaction, was studying the effect of ring strain on the strength of two neighboring carbons; by adding enough strain he expected to coax C-C bonds into forming diradicals:

Georg Wittig, discoverer of the Wittig reaction, was studying the effect of ring strain on the strength of two neighboring carbons; by adding enough strain he expected to coax C-C bonds into forming diradicals: