Synlett 1999; 1999(8): 1331
DOI: 10.1055/s-1999-5735
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Indium

Dramane Lainé*
  • *Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 1999 (online)

Since the beginning of the nineties, the use of metallic indium in organic synthesis has provoked widespread interest. What makes this metal particularly attractive is its realtive non-toxicity, its inertia to air and more importantly to water. This compatibility allows reactions involving water soluble molecules, such as unprotected carbohydrates, to be carried out in a simple, straightforward manner, thus avoiding protection-deprotection protocols. The lower first ionisation potential of indium (5.8 eV) relative to similarly water resistant metals such as tin (7.3 eV) and zinc (9.4 eV) makes it a very mild and useful reactant for single electron transfer processes. Thus the main use of indium has been to mediate Reformatsky and Barbier-type reactions in polar solvents (water, DMF) under very mild conditions.