This review describes the various ways of functionalizing the pyridine scaffold using either directed metalation or halogen/metal exchange. Deprotonation can be accomplished with different lithium amides or alkyllithium reagents at low temperature. Milder conditions and higher functional group tolerance can be achieved by using ate-bases with different metals (Cd, Mg, Zn) or TMP (2,2,6,6- tetramethylpiperidyl) metal reagents (metal=Mg, Zn, Zr). With alkyllithium reagents it is also possible, by

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... carefully adjusting the reaction conditions, to perform bromine/lithium exchange reactions. Organomagnesium reagents, like iPrMgX (X=Br, Cl LiCl), may be used for exchanging more sensitive iodinated or brominated pyridines