Heteroatom-directed aromatic lithiation reactions for the syntheses of several heterocyclic ring systems and naturally occurring compounds which have not been synthesised or which have been synthesised only through considerably longer routes by the usual methods are reviewed in this article. 1. Introduction 2. Aromatic Lithiation Reactions 3. Synthesis of Basic Heterocyclic Ring Systems 4. Utility of the New Synthetic Methods 5. Strategies to Improve Yields in Aromatic Lithiation Reactions