Development of Novel Green Approaches to Synthesize Indole Derivatives

Abstract

Green chemistry approaches involve the utilization of non-toxic raw materials and the reduction of harmful chemical byproducts during the synthesis. In recent years, there has been an increasing emphasis on the field of green chemistry which includes the chemical production process, strategic synthetic planning, assessment of manufacturing costs, and effective management of waste generated during the synthesis. In this perspective, various green approaches have been developed in the recent years to synthesize indole derivatives. Indole, a class of heterocyclic compounds containing nitrogen, finds considerable applications in the synthesis of various organic molecules. The agricultural and pharmaceutical industries require innovative and efficient synthetic approaches for indole derivatives due to their wide range of applications. Furthermore, these scaffolds provide notable advantages in the realm of pharmaceutical research owing to their extensive array of applications like antiviral, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, and antioxidant activities. Previously, numerous endeavours have been undertaken to synthesise indole derivatives. However, the use of Lewis acids or bases, along with transition-metal catalysts, does not align with the concepts and objectives of green chemistry. However, in the last decades, there has been a notable emphasis towards the development of novel eco-friendly approaches to the synthesis of indole derivatives. Consequently, our research focused on the development of environmentally friendly methodologies for synthesizing indole derivatives. Initially we focused on the design and implementation of a highly effective and environmentally friendly method for the electrophilic substitution of indoles with aromatic aldehydes to synthesise bis-indole derivatives using the and#945;-amylase enzyme as a catalyst in an aqueous medium. Furthermore, bis(indolyl)methanes (BIMs) have garnered significant interest owing to their capacity to function as inhibitors for colon tumours