Metalation/trapping sequences applied to relatively inert, tert-alkyl substituted arenes tend to give poor yields unless the reagent is used in high concentrations. Under optimized conditions, even 1, 4-bis (tert-butyl) benzene, 1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylindane and 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3- hexamethylindane can be smoothly converted into derivatives. Competition experiments enable the quantitative assessment of tert-alkyl substituent effects on the metalation rates ...