Metalation of mesitylene with butyllithium in hexane in the presence of tetramethylethylenediamine yields mono-, di-and trilithiated benzylic compounds (1–5), characterized as their silylated derivatives. Dilithiation occurred partly at the same but preferentially at different methyls. The symmetrical tris-1, 3, 5-(lithiomethylene) benzene was the main product. Similar metalation occurred with m-xylene. o-Xylene gave also ...