2-Pyridylsilyl group: A useful multifunctional group in organic synthesis

The utility of the 2-pyridylsilyl group as a multifunctional group in organic synthesis is described. The use of the 2-pyridylsilyl group as a removable directing group is a powerful synthetic strategy that circumvents the specificity-generality dilemma in mental-mediated organic synthesis. In addition, the utility of the 2-pyridylsilyl group as a phase tag for strategic separation and as a removable hydrophilic group for aqueous reactions is also described.