The reaction of equimolecular amounts of chloromethyl ethyl ether (1) and a carbonyl compound [Bu(n)CHO, Bu(t)CHO, PhCHO, (Pr2CO)-C-i, Bu(2)(t)CO, (CH2)(4)CO, 2-cyclohexenone, PhCOMe] with an excess of lithium powder (1:7 molar ratio) and a catalytic amount of DTBB (5 mol %) in THF at 0 degrees C (Method A) leads, after hydrolysis, to the corresponding hydroxyethers 2. The reaction can be also carried out in a two-step process: tandem lithiation at -90 degrees C and reaction with the electrophile [Bu(n)CHO, (CH2)(4)CO, PhCOMe, PhMe(2)SiCl, CO2, PhCN, PhCONMe(2), CyNCO, PhN=CHPh] at -90 to -60 degrees C (Method B).