They thermally decompose to eliminate a β-hydrogen, producing alkenes and lithium hydride: another route is the reaction of ethers with alkyl- and aryllithiums that act as strong bases.
ðeɪ θˈɜːməli dˌiːkəmpˈoʊz tʊ ᵻlˈɪmᵻnˌeɪt ɐ bˈeɪɾəhˈaɪdɹədʒən, pɹədˈuːsɪŋ ˈælkiːnz ænd lˈɪθiəm hˈaɪdɹaɪd: ɐnˈʌðɚ ɹˈaʊt ɪz ðə ɹɪˈækʃən ʌv ˈiːθɚz wɪð ˈælkaɪl ænd ˌɑːɹɹɪlˈɪθiəmz ðæt ˈækt æz stɹˈɔŋ bˈeɪsᵻz.