IN-VITRO ANTITUMOR AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF N-SUBSTITUENTS OF MALEIMIDE BY ADAMANTANE AND DIAMANTANE

New N-1-adamantylcitraconimide (compound 1) and N-1-diamantylcitraconi mide (compound 2) were synthesized by reaction of citraconic anhydride with 1-aminoadamantane, and 1-aminodiamantane, respectively, followed by imidization with acetic anhydride and sodium acetate. Compound 1, N-1-adamantylmaleimide (compound 3) and N-1-diamantylmaleimide (compou nd 4) exhibited strong growth-inhibitory activity against four cancer cell lines (Cole 205, Hep G2, SK-BR-3 and Molt-4). Moreover, compound 1 showed relatively specific cytoxicity against the test turner cell l ines. Compound 2 exhibited growth inhibitory activity against Cole 205 , and SK-BR-3 cells, similar to 5-fluorouracil. It was noted that comp ound 2 showed relatively low cytotoxicity against Molt-4 cells, approx imately 42 times lower than 5-fluorouracil. The N-substituents of imid es with adamantyl substituents have a more potent antitumor activity t han the imides with diamantyl substituents. The imides with methyl sub stituents (compounds 1 and 2) showed relatively higher selectivity aga inst the tested cancer cell lines than the imides without methyl subst ituents (compounds 3 and 4). Compounds 3 and 4 show good in vitro acti vities against Staphylococcus aureus and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Compound 1 had weak antimicrobial activity against T. mentagrophytes.