A synthesis of 2-endo-amino-2-exo-hydroxymethylnorbornenes having inhibitory activity against protein kinase C.

2-endo-Hexadecylamino-2-exo-hydroxymethylnorbornene (1a) was synthesized from 2-acetamidonorbornene-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester (2) in a good overall yield. 2-endo-Hexadecylamino-2,3-exo-bis(hydroxymethyl)norbornene (1b) was synthesized starting from dimethyl acetamidofumarate based on Diels-Alder strategy. 1a and 1b inhibited protein kinase C at the IC51 values of 2 x 10(-5) and 1 x 10(-5) M, respectively, but not protein kinase A at a concentration of 1 x 10(-3) M. The structure-activity relationships are discussed.