Indium(III) chloride hydrate is used for mild and selective cleavage of tert-butyldimethylsilyl ethers. It is a Lewis acid, and serves as a catalyst for many organic transformations. It also catalyzes the conversion of aldehydes to gem diacetates by chemoselective process. Lithium indium hydride, an in situ reducing agent, can be prepared from indium trichloride. It catalyzes reactions such as Friedel-Crafts acylations and Diels-Alder reactions. It also catalyzes Knoevenagel condensation between the barbituric acid and the aldehyde.

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