Rate studies on deprotonation of a simple ketone (R-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanone) with lithium diisopropylamide are described. The data are consistent with the reaction being first order in ketone and half order in the base, corresponding to the rate equation: v = k[ketone][LDA](1/2). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.