1-(3-Methoxyphenyl)ethanol (Rivastigmine EP Impurity G) is a versatile reactant used in the preparation of 2,3-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines as enantioselective acyl transfer catalysts in kinetic resolution of alcohols. Also used in chemoselective preparation of aryl aldehydes/ketones via in situ generated TEMPO-copper(II) diimine catalyzed oxidation of benzylic alcohols in aqueous media.