What is "isatin"

Isatin \I"sa*tin\, n. [See Isatis.] (Chem.) An orange-red crystalline substance, C8H5NO2, obtained by the oxidation of indigo blue. It is also produced from certain derivatives of benzoic acid, and is one important source of artificial indigo. [Written also, less properly, isatine.]

n. (context organic compound English) The indole derivative ''1H-indole-2,3-dione'', used in the synthesis of dyes.

Isatin or 1H-indole-2,3-dione is an indole derivative. The compound was first obtained by Erdmann and Laurent in 1841 as a product from the oxidation of indigo dye by nitric acid and chromic acids. The compound is found in many plants, such as Isatis tinctoria, Calanthe discolor and in Couroupita guianensis.

Schiff bases of isatin are investigated for their pharmaceutical properties.

Isatin forms a blue dye (indophenin) if it is mixed with sulfuric acid and crude benzene. The formation of the indophenin was long believed to be a reaction with benzene. Victor Meyer was able to isolate the substance responsible for this reaction from crude benzene. This new heterocyclic compound was thiophene.