It is mainly used for the synthesis of special drugs of anti-cancer and anti-tumor.
It can also be used to prepare advanced lubricants, the surfactants of photosensitive material, pesticides, catalysts and the like.
The hydrogen atom of its bridgehead carbon atoms (i. e. 1, 3, 5, and 7) is easy to have substitution reaction. E.g. adamantane has reaction with an excess amount of bromine, generating 1-bromo-adamantane; reaction with nitrogen dioxide at 175 °C can yield 1-Polynitroadamantanes; oxidation between chromium trioxide and acetic acid can form a 1-adamantyl alcohol. Adamantane can also be obtained through the isomerization between tetrahydro-dicyclopentadiene in the presence of anhydrous aluminum chloride.
Its derivative can be used as medicaments, e.g., 1-amino-adamantane hydrochloride and 1-adamantyl triethylamine hydrochloride can prevent the influenza caused by the virus A2.
Adamantane can be used for the synthesis of adamantane derivative. It can often be used as pharmaceutical intermediates as well as being used as the raw material of light-sensitive material, cosmetic and surfactant intermediates and also the epoxy curing agent.
