The addition of methyllithium to 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutan-1-one-3-thione. The generation and capture of a bishomoenolate anion.

Methyllithium added to 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutan-1-one-3-thione to produce lithium 3-methylthio-2,2,4,4-tetramethylbicyclo[1.1.0]but-1-oxide. This bishomoenolate was alkylated on carbon by methyl iodide, but retained the bicyclo[1.1.0]butane skeleton when silated with chlorotrimethylsilane. The ease of oxidation of a series of 1,3-diheteroatom substituted bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes was determined.