In particular, zolmitriptan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,
which includes a) Preparation of the diazonium salt of the aniline
hydrochloride (II); followed by reduction and acidification to give
hydrazine (III); b) In situ Reaction of the hydrazine hydrochloride (III)
with .alpha.-keto-.delta.-valerolactone, to give the hydrazone (IV); c)
Fischer indole synthesis of the hydrazone (IV), to give the
pyranoindolone of formula (V); d) Transesterification of the
pyranoindolone (V) to provide the compound (VI), in which R means a
straight or branched C1-C4 alkyl; e) Conversion of the hydroxyl group of
the compound (VI) into dimethylamino to give the indolecarboxylate (VII),
in which R means a straight or branched C1-C4 alkyl; f) Saponification of
the 2-carboalkoxy group of the compound (VII), to provide
indolecarboxylic acid (VIII); g) Decarboxylation of the indolecarboxylic
acid (VIII), to provide zolmitriptan and, eventually, to provide a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.