A novel N,N-diisopropylformamidine (DIFA) protecting group for anilines was studied. Metalation is often metal-directed by this weakly coordinating and bulky group, making it complementary to ortho-metalation directed by tert-butylcarbamate and pivaloylamide groups and to regular electrophilic reactions of anilines. Importantly, DIFA is removed under nucleophilic conditions and is stable toward acids, thus being orthogonal to tert-butylcarbamate, N-tert-butylamide, and other acid-labile protecting groups.