Novel indophenol derivatives were synthesized and characterized electrochemically with respect to their abilities to act as electron-transfer mediators for lactate oxidase. These compounds showed suitable redox potentials and high second-order rate constants, k(med), in solution for electron-transfer from the reduced enzyme. A lactate sensor using these derivatives demonstrated high sensitivity and good substrate selectivity. This sensor could also achieve excellent durability which retained more than 70% residual activity and good linearity in the range from 0 to 16 mM lactate concentration even after 10 days.