2-(Pyrimidin-5-yl)phenol is a temporary directing group (TDG) to assist as a co-catalyst for metal catalyzed C-H functionalization. Often in C-H functionalization, an auxiliary compound is used to control site selectivity. These traditionally are covalently bonded to the compound of interest, and must subsequently be removed after functionalization, like a typical protecting group. To simplify the process of C-H functionalization, 2-Fluoro-6-(pyrimidin-5-yl)aniline is one of a series of temporary directing groups developed by Deb Maiti′s lab that promote site selectivity without the inclusion of additional synthetic steps.

2-(Pyrimidin-5-yl)phenol is an effective TDG for meta directed C-H functionalization of substitutes with a variety of electron withdrawing functional groups, with high selectivity.