Novel Commercial Scale Synthetic Approach for 5-Cyanoindole: A Potential Intermediate for Vilazodone Hydrochloride, an Antidepressant Drug

Abstract

Present work describes the synthesis of 5-cyanoindole, a common intermediate used in various synthetic route of the antidepressant vilazodone hydrochloride. The protocol is both robust and commercially viable, utilizing readily available and low-cost materials and the isomers are environmental friendly than previously reported routes through its evading use of cyanide reagents and heavy metals.