Design, synthesis and docking study of Vortioxetine derivatives as a SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitor

Purpose Vortioxetine an anti-depressant FDA-drug recently reported showing better in vitro efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. Methods In this study, we have synthesized ten new derivatives having alkenes, alkynes, benzyl, aryl, and mixed carbamate at the N-terminal of vortioxetine. Then the binding energy and interactions with the crucial amino acid residues in the binding pocket of main protease (M pro ) of SARS-CoV-2, of reported and ten newly synthesized vortioxetine derivatives (total thirty-one) in comparison with remdesivir are analyzed and presented in this paper. Results Based on the docking scores predicted by ADV and AD, most vortioxetine derivatives showed better binding efficiency towards M pro of SARS-CoV-2 in comparison with remdesivir (an EUA approved drug against SARS-CoV-2 M pro ) and vortioxetine. Conclusion This study shows that some vortioxetine derivatives can be developed into promising drugs for COVID-19 treatment.