We develop the prerequisites for coherent control of the ultracold isotope-exchange reaction 6Li7Li + 6Li7Li → 6Li2 + 7Li2, a versatile platform for studying and controlling state-to-state reaction dynamics. First, we develop methods to prepare lithium molecules in rovibrational ground states through coherent assembly: free ultracold atoms are magneto-associated into weakly bound Feshbach molecules and then transferred to deeply bound ground states using species-dependent STIRAP. To enable this, we characterize the near-threshold scattering properties of 6Li2, 7Li2, and 6Li7Li using coupled-channel calculations with optimized Morse/Long-Range potentials fit to threshold data. These refined potentials provide a full characterization of the Feshbach resonances relevant to molecule formation. From calculated transition dipole matrix elements, determined by vibrational overlaps (Franck-Condon factors) and spin character, we identify candidate pump and Stokes transitions and the conditions for efficient STIRAP transfer. Second, we develop a scheme for coherent control of ultracold collisions based on identical-particle symmetry, in which the reactants are prepared in coherent superpositions. Using Li + Li as a model system, we show that exchange symmetry enables symmetry-protected control of the total scattering cross section. This mechanism can be directly generalized to 6Li7Li + 6Li7Li collisions, indicating that full control of collisions between identical fermionic molecules is achievable. These results guide the experimental preparation of ultracold lithium molecules and establish this reaction as a promising platform for coherent control in ultracold chemistry.

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