A series of 5‐[(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)methyl]‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole‐2(3H)‐thiones was synthesized in this study. Methyl substitution on the indole ring and propyl, butyl, or benzyl substitution on sulfhydryl group‐possessing compounds were revealed to protect Friedreich's ataxia fibroblasts against chemically induced oxidative stress. Two of the active compounds also reproducibly increased the survival of Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to juglone‐induced oxidative stress.
