Biologically active polycycloalkanes. 6. Antiviral 1-tricyclo[4.3.1.1 2,5]undecyl derivatives

Functionalization reactions via cationic intermediates of tricyclo[4.3.1.1 2,5]undecane (2) were investigated to prepare derivatives with potential antiviral activities. Bromination of 2 took place regiospecifically at C-1, and the resulted bromide 5 was converted into the hydroxide 9, the carboxylic acid 12, and the amine 22, from which were synthesized a variety of secondary derivatives, including homologous esters 10 and 20, amides 14 and 19, carbamates 24, and ureas 17 and 25. The hydroxide 9, the acid 12, and the acetamide 21 were also obtainable directly from tricyclo[5.2.1.0 2,6]dec-endo-2-ylcarbinol (1), the precursor for the synthesis of the hydrocarbon 2. Success in these functionalization-rearrangements was attributed to the inability of the intermediate 2-1-yl cation (2+) for further skeletal isomerizations. Among the 1-substituted derivatives of 2 prepared, the amine hydrochlorides (16 and 23), a few esters (20b and 20d), and some N-alkylamides (19c, 19d, and 19e) exhibited marked antiviral activities as compared to amantadine hydrochloride, when tested in vitro on a monolayer culture of chick embryo fibroblasts against Newcastle disease virus.