(3-Methoxybenzylalcohol)chromiumtricarbonyl (10) and (7-methoxy-1-tetralol)chromiumtricarbonyl (12) are selectively lithiated at the 4- and 6-positions, respectively, by treatment with n-BuLi-TMEDA. Since the directed lithiation of the corresponding chromium free arenes normally proceeds at the 2-and 8-positions, complementarily substituted arenes can be prepared by using the chromiumtricarbonylcomplexes. The difierent