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.
Van Derpoorten, K., Balzarini, J., De Clercq, E., & Poupaert, J. (1997). Anti-HIV activity of N-1-adamantyl-4-aminophthalimide. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 51(10), 464-468. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/74216 (Original work published 1997)