Indium have been widely investigated by scientists because of its several interesting properties and its use in different applications in the manufacture of TVs screens, computers, cell phones, solar panels, electroluminescent diodes (LEDs), organic electroluminescent diodes (OLEDs), DNA and antibody sensors, electrocatalysts, architectural glass coatings, low melting alloys, thermal interface materials, aircraft engine bearings, among others. The economic urge to make devices more cost effective and efficient has guide developments in different deposition technologies, such as dip-coating, plating, thick and thin film deposition. However, indium is classified as a critical metal. In this sense, we discussed the economic viability and spatial distribution of the indium resources in Brazil and worldwide considering that its supply still remains a concern. On top of that, the present review discusses the scientific and technological aspects of indium materials and highlights the major advances regarding their synthesis, properties and applications.

An experiment for the synthesis of isobutylene from tert-butanol dehydratation using oxalic acid as catalyst, followed by preparations of tert-butyl benzoate and tert-butyl cinnamate is described. The synthesis are simple, requiring two periods of 4 hours and are suitable for undergraduate organic chemistry experimental courses.