Adamantane



Adamantane is a colorless, crystalline chemical compound with a camphor-like odor. With a formula C10 H16, it is a cycloalkane and also the simplest diamondoid. Adamantane molecules consist of three cyclohexane rings arranged in the "armchair" configuration. It is unique in that it is both rigid and virtually stress-free. Adamantane is the most stable among all the isomers with formula C10 H16, which include the somewhat similar twistane. The spatial arrangement of carbon atoms is the same in adamantane molecule and in the diamond crystal. This motivates the name adamantane, which is derived from the Greek adamantinos (relating to steel or diamond).[4]

The discovery of adamantane in petroleum in 1933 launched a new chemistry field studying the synthesis and properties of polyhedral organic compounds. Adamantane derivatives have found practical application as drugs, polymeric materials and thermally stable lubricants.