Yes, there is an alternative. For example, in the Reimer–Tiemann reaction, phenol is ortho-formulated by using 1 mole phenol, 1 mole chloroform, and 3 moles of KOH. The product will be salicylaldehyde "where the -OH & -CHO are ortho to each other on the benzene ring".
Formylation reaction of phenol by Reimer -Tiemann reaction or Duff- formylation using Hexamine and that of mesitylene by Gatterman,-Koch reaction or by Vilsmeier -Heck reaction.