Synthesis, structure and tumour necrosis factor-alpha production-enhancing properties of novel adamantylamino heterocyclic derivatives.

The synthesis of several adamantylated aminoheterocycles is reported. The attack of the adamantyl cation formed from 1-adamantanol in refluxing trifluoroacetic acid or induced by microwave irradiation provides adamantylamino-derivatives of respective heterocycles. Adamantylated heterocycles enhance the induction of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in genetically modified murine melanoma cells transduced with the gene for human TNF-alpha. Of the studied collection of adamantylated compounds, the most biologically active are 2-adamantylamino-6-methylpyridine and 2-adamantylamino4-methylpyrimidine. The crystal structure of 2-adamantylamino-6-methylpyridine is reported.