mˌɛθəlˈɪθiəm ɪz bˈoʊθ stɹˈɔŋli bˈeɪsɪk ænd hˈaɪli nˌuːklɪəfˈɪlɪk dˈuː tə ðə pˈɑːɹʃəl nˈɛɡətˌɪv tʃˈɑːɹdʒ ˌɔn kˈɑːɹbən ænd ɪz ðˈɛɹfoːɹ pɚtˈɪkjʊlɚli ɹɪˈæktɪv təwˈɔːɹdz ᵻlˈɛktɹɑːn ɐksˈɛptɚz ænd pɹˈoʊtɑːn dˈoʊnɚz.
Methyllithium is both strongly basic and highly nucleophilic due to the partial negative charge on carbon and is therefore particularly reactive towards electron acceptors and proton donors.