Thiophene is a five-membered heterocyclic compound containing a sulfur heteroatom with the molecular formula C4H4S. Thiophene is aromatic and is very similar to benzene; electrophilic substitution reaction is easier than benzene, and it is mainly substituted at the 2-position. Thiophene ring system has certain stability to oxidant.
Indolinone derivatives have in common the presence of a hydrogen bond between the C-2 carbonyl and a hydrogen donor in a side chain, generally a pyrrole ring. Indolinone displays very promising antitumor properties by inhibiting various kinase families.