Red-sea dolomite as a sustainable catalyst in the synthesis of bis-indolyl methanes with molecular docking validation as HIV-1 replication inhibitor

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Dolomite minerals were collected from the Red Sea Mountains around the Sokhna region. The rock was collected, rinsed, and crushed using a ball mailing machine and used without further purification. The dolomite sample was characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM/EDAX, and mapping to ensure their composition and homogeneity. The obtained data reveal that the presence of a homogenous crystalline structure of CaMg(CO₃)₂. The characterized rock was used as a catalyst in the eco-friendly synthesis of bis-indolyl methane derivatives by reacting two moles of unsubstituted indole and various aromatic aldehydes in the presence of Red-Sea Dolomite mineral as an economical, recyclable, easily obtained, and nontoxic catalyst under solvent-free conditions. The molecular docking study explained that the bis-indolyl methane can be considered as a small molecule stimulator of HIV-1 frameshifting and inhibitor of viral replication.

KEY WORDS: Indole, Dolomite, HIV-1, Catalyst, Frameshifting, Viral replication

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2021, 35(3), 647-657.

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v35i3.15