Indolizine and its alkyl derivatives are generally of low-mp or high- bp liquid, sensitive to light and air. They are
steam volatile. The stability of indolizines is increased by the presence of substituents. The presence of aryl substituent
at both the C2- and C5-positions increases stability and decreases steam volatility. The pKaH (3.9) of indolizine is
much more basic than indole (pKaH −3.5).
Indolizines are chemically quite reactive and readily undergo electrophilic substitution reactions similar to indole
and isoindoles but show resistance to nucleophilic substitution reactions. The preferential site for electrophilic substitution
is C3 but may also take place at C1 as evident from the resonating structures. It is resistant to acid-catalyzed
polymerization. As regards protonation of indolizine it is protonated preferentially at C3 but in the case of the preoccupied
C3-position by an electron-donating substituent, protonation takes place at C1.
Indolizine is a useful chemical intermediate
ChEBI: Indolizine is a mancude organic heterobicyclic parent and a member of indolizines.
Purify indolizine through an alumina column in *C6H6 and elute with *C6H6 (toluene could be used instead). The eluate contained in the fluorescent band (using UV light 365mn) is collected, evaporated and the crystalline residue is sublimed twice at 40-50o/0.2-0.5mm. The colourless crystals darken on standing and should be stored in dark sealed containers. If the original sample is dark in color then it should be covered with water and steam distilled. The colourless crystals in the distillate are collected and dried between filter paper and sublimed. It protonates on C3 in aqueous acid. It should give one fluorescent spot on paper chromatography (Whatman 1) in 3% aqueous ammonia and in n-BuOH/AcOH/H2O (4:1:1). The picrate has m 101o from EtOH. [Armarego J Chem Soc 226 1964, Armarego J Chem Soc (B) 191 1966, Scholtz Chem Ber 45 734 1912, Beilstein 20 II 200, 20 III/IV 3195.]
