Exploiting the Indole Scaffold to Design Compounds Binding to Different Pharmacological Targets †

Several indole derivatives have been disclosed by our research groups that have been collaborating for nearly 25 years. The results of our investigations led to a variety of molecules binding selectively to different pharmacological targets, specifically the type A γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA(A)) chloride channel, the translocator protein (TSPO), the murine double minute 2 (MDM2) protein, the A(2B) adenosine receptor (A(2B) AR) and the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). Herein, we describe how these works were conceived and carried out thanks to the versatility of indole nucleus to be exploited in the design and synthesis of drug-like molecules.