Recent advances in the green synthesis of indole and its derivatives using microwave irradiation and the role of indole moiety in cancer

Abstract

Indole moiety is widely present in several natural bioactive products and medicinally important compounds. It is an essential scaffold for the development of novel leads. Nowadays, the synthesis of indoles by conventional methods is replaced with greener ones. The dynamic growth in green organic synthetic approaches for different heterocyclic scaffolds has markedly contributed to the field of medicinal chemistry over the last few decades. This review article compiled the last seven years’ results in the green synthesis of indole and its derivatives using microwave irradiations from 2018 to 2024. Microwave (MW) assisted reactions are very rapid, environment-friendly, proficient, and convenient methodologies for the synthesis of organic compounds. This review contains synthetic procedures, reaction conditions, and greener features in synthesizing indole and its derivatives. This review article aims to promote greener synthesis methods and guide the researchers to design, develop, and synthesize indole-based derivatives using a microwave irradiation technique. This article also discusses the anticancer potential of indole-containing compounds reported in recent literature.

Keywords

• Indole
• microwave irradiation
• catalyst
• green chemistry
• yield