Anti-HIV activity of N-1-adamantyl-4-aminophthalimide.

The discovery of new leads acting via novel modes of action in the treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative agent of AIDS, remains a challenge. Along this line we synthesized and evaluated a series of N-substituted 4-aminophthalimides which were designed according to the models of thalidomide, phenytoin (PHT) and ameltolide. From a series of 24 compounds only N-1-adamantyl-4-aminophthalimide was endowed with anti-HIV-1 and -HIV-2 activity in CEM cell cultures.