Novel analogs of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-methoxyphenyl adamantane-1-acetate: synthesis, biotesting, and molecular modeling

A series of novel analogs of dual-targeted antimitotic agent 5-hydroxymethyl-2-methoxyphenyl adamantane-1-acetate was synthesized. These compounds maintained the cytostatic ability of the lead molecule and induced no depolymerization of microtubules in human lung carcinoma cells A549. The importance of substituent positions in the aromatic ring for interactions with the microtubules was explained using computer molecular modeling.