A review with 26 refs. on the authors work on metalation by bases and superbases. BuLi requires activation to become capable of abstracting a proton from weakly acidic hydrocarbons like cyclopropanes, simple olefins, or arenes. The addn. of stoichiometric amts. of KOCMe3 is a most effective means of enhancing the rate of a H/metal exchange. Superbasic alkyllithium/K alcoholate mixts. are endowed not only with an unsurpassed reactivity but also with a surprisingly high selectivity as evidenced by series of optionally site-selective arene metalations. [on SciFinder (R)]