Indium metal and its halides in organic synthesis

This review highlights the applications of indium metal and indium(III) hal ides in organic synthesis with particular reference to regio-, stereo-, and chemoselectivity. Indium-mediated reactions include the regioselective all ylation of alkynes, the stereoselective debromination of vic-aryl-substitut ed dibromides, the homocoupling of alkyl/aryl halides, and the reduction of cc-halocarbonyl compounds. Indium trichloride has been used as a Lewis aci d catalyst in epoxide rearrangements, in the synthesis of a-amino phosphona tes, and in the construction of the quinoline system. Indium triiodide has proven to be a very efficient catalyst for transesterification processes.