Alkyl-lithium compounds are stored under inert gas to prevent loss of activity and for reasons of safety. n-BuLi reacts violently with water:
:CHLi + HO → CH + LiOH
This is an exergonic and highly exothermic reaction. If oxygen is present the butane produced may ignite.
BuLi also reacts with CO to give lithium pentanoate:
:CHLi + CO → CHCOLi