A straightforward chemoselective protection of anilines as N-TBS derivatives is described by using a suitable deprotonation of the amine with methyllithium in the environmentally friendly and safer substitute of THF, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, under exceptional mild reaction conditions (0 °C, 30 min). Interestingly, the protecting group maybe cleaved efficiently by simple treatment of N-TBS-anilines with silica gel in ethanol–water.