: A scale-up synthesis of antidepressant drug vilazodone was accomplished in five steps. Friedel−Crafts acylation of
1-tosyl-1H-indole-5-carbonitrile with 4-chlorobutyryl chloride, selective deoxygenation in NaBH4/CF3COOH system coupled
with ethyl 5-(piperazin-1-yl)-benzofuran-2-carboxylate hydrochloride, one-step deprotection and esterolysis, and the final
ammonolysis led to the target molecule vilazodone in 52.4% overall yield and 99.7% purity. This convenient and economical
procedure is remarkably applicable for scale-up production