A versatile reactant. As 3-Methylindole metabolite. Reactant for enantioselective α-amination reactions, Reactant for aldol reaction with glyoxal derivatives, Reactant for amine thiourea catalyzed conjugate addition to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, Reactant for O-acetylation reactions, Reactant for preparation of a disubstituted oxoindole by using rhodium-catalyzed cyclopropanation/ring-opening reactions.