Substituted adamantylphthalimides: Synthesis,antiviral and antiproliferative activity

In this study, three groups of adamantylphthalimides, bearing different substituents at the phthalimide moiety, N-(4′-R²)phthalimidoadamantanes ( 1 – 7 ), 3-[N-(4′-R²)phthalimido]-1-adamantanols ( 8 – 10 ), and 3-[N-(4′-R²)phthalimido]adamantane-1-carboxylic acids ( 11 – 15 ), were synthesized and screened against tumor cells and viruses. The most potent compounds are not substituted at the adamantane and bear an OH or NH₂ substituent at the phthalimide (compounds 3 and 5 ). The antiproliferative activities of compounds 3 and 5 are in the micromolar range, much higher than the one of thalidomide. A minor antiviral activity against cytomegalovirus and varicella-zoster virus was found for compounds 3 and 5 , but these compounds lacked selectivity. The results presented are important for the rational design of the next-generation compounds with anticancer and antiviral activities.