Efficient Green Synthesis, Anticancer Activity, and Molecular Docking Studies of Indolemethanes Using a Bioglycerol-Based Carbon Sulfonic Acid Catalyst

Indolemethane derivatives are significant molecules in the study of N-heterocyclic chemistry. Herein, we designed and developed a highly efficient green synthesis of indolemethane compounds using a recyclable biodegradable glycerol-based carbon solid acid catalyst under solvent-free conditions at room temperature for 5 min with excellent yields. The synthesized compounds were subjected to cytotoxic activity against prostate (DU145), hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), and melanoma (B16) cell lines. The highest cytotoxicity effects were found with 1k (1.09 μM) and 1c (2.02 μM) against DU145, followed by 1a, 1d, 1f, 1n, and 1m between 5.10 and 8.18 μM concentrations. The anticancer activity is validated using molecular docking simulations, and comparing binding energies with the standard drug doxorubicin suggests that the title compounds are well fitted into the active site pocket of the target molecules..