Continuous‐Flow Divergent Lithiation of 2,3‐Dihalopyridines: Deprotolithiation versus Halogen Dance

We describe herein the first halogen dance (HD) in continuous flow on 2‐chloro‐3‐bromopyridine by selectively trapping a (pyridin‐4‐yl)lithium species that is known to undergo the halogen‐dance process. In addition, this lithiated intermediate was trapped at lower temperature before the HD occurs. The HD process was extended to fluoro‐iodopyridines by using various electrophiles to afford 28 examples with yields ranging from 42 to 97 % with very short residence times. Finally, scale up of the reaction was demonstrated, affording a promising space‐time yield (STY) of 4.2 kg.h(−1).L(−1).