TCI M3157 5-Methoxyoxindole is a heterocyclic building block built on the oxindole framework — an indolin-2-one core carrying a methoxy group at the five position. The oxindole skeleton is regarded as a privileged motif in medicinal chemistry because it appears repeatedly in natural alkaloids and in a wide range of pharmacologically active molecules, including numerous kinase inhibitors. In the organic synthesis laboratory, this compound serves as an efficient starting material because the C-3 position on the five-membered ring is acidic and reactive, making it immediately suitable for condensation reactions, alkylation, and the formation of methylidene derivatives that characterise many drug candidates.
The properties that make this material a preferred choice are the combination of C-3 proton acidity and the electronic influence of the methoxy group. The proton at the three position is readily deprotonated by a moderate base, generating a nucleophilic enolate that reacts with aldehydes and other electrophiles with reliable results. The methoxy group is electron-donating and enriches the benzene ring, while at the same time mimicking the substitution pattern of many indole-based natural products. This group can also be demethylated to the corresponding phenol, extending the range of accessible derivatives from a single starting material.
In Indonesian laboratories, this building block is typically used in university and institutional organic synthesis groups working on heterocyclic chemistry, in medicinal chemistry programmes preparing oxindole analogue series, and in research units screening candidate structures against biological targets. It is also used in method development work, where a dependable and well-behaved substrate is needed to establish condensation or alkylation conditions before those conditions are transferred to more valuable intermediates.
Related TCI products
- Knoevenagel-type condensation with aldehydes, where the acidic C-3 proton forms a nucleophilic enolate that delivers methylidene-oxindole products reliably and reproducibly.
- Preparation of kinase inhibitor analogue series, because the oxindole core is a recurring scaffold in this inhibitor class and supports systematic structural variation around the ring.
- C-3 alkylation studies, in which moderate bases generate the enolate cleanly and allow controlled introduction of substituents at the reactive three position of the ring.
- Synthesis of indole-based natural product analogues, since the five-methoxy substitution pattern mimics the oxygenation found in many naturally occurring alkaloid structures.
- Demethylation routes toward phenolic oxindoles, where conversion of the methoxy group to a free hydroxyl opens access to an additional family of derivative compounds.
| Brand | TCI |
|---|---|
| CAS number | 7699-18-5 |
| Molecular formula | — |
| Purity | — |
| Category | Chemistry > Building Blocks > Heterocyclic Building Blocks |
| Pack sizes | available in the standard research-scale pack sizes listed for this catalogue item |
| Physical form | — |
| Storage | keep in a cool, dry place in the tightly closed original container |
- Product code: M3157
Store this building block in its tightly closed original container in a cool, dry area, away from direct sunlight, moisture, and sources of ignition or strong heat. Keep it separated from strong oxidising agents and strong bases. Amber glass or the supplier's original packaging is suitable; reseal promptly after each use to limit exposure to atmospheric moisture. Handle in a well-ventilated fume hood using a laboratory coat, safety glasses, and chemically resistant gloves, and avoid generating or inhaling dust. Weigh and transfer with clean, dry spatulas to prevent contamination of the remaining stock, and consult the manufacturer's safety data sheet before first use.
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