isatin

1. (organic chemistry) The indole derivative 1H-indole-2,3-dione, used in the synthesis of dyes.Examples: "This finding suggests that the gut flora (absent, of course, in germ free animals) are responsible for the generation of most urinary isatin, but that the tissue material derives from a different source."; "One problem in large scale denim dyeing processes using biologically produced indigo is the undesirable red cast caused by indirubin, which is a structural isomer of indigo formed from indoxyl and isatin, a byproduct of the spontaneous oxidation reaction that converts indoxyl to indigo."; "Isatin reacts with formaldehyde and a variety of amines in the Mannich reaction to give their respective bases (10), in the absence of an amine, isatin and substituted isatin with formaldehyde give hydroxymethyl isatins (11)."countableuncountable