Novel adamantane-linked isothiourea derivatives as potential chemotherapeutic agents: synthesis, structural insights, and antimicrobial/anti-proliferative profiles

Abstract

In this study, two adamantane-linked isothiourea derivatives containing a common 4-chlorophenyl substituent coupled with 4-nitrobenzyl or 4-bromobenzyl moieties were synthesized. Both derivatives were characterized, in the solid state and in solution, through a synergistic combination of experimental and in silico techniques, and the results are of great value for the chemical and structural characterization of related compounds. The crystal structures of both derivatives were analyzed in depth, including Hirshfeld surface analysis and lattice energy calculations, revealing a predominant dispersive component of the total energy that stabilizes crystal packing. Both compounds showed potent broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and moderate activity against the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. In addition, in vitro anti-proliferative activity assays showed that the 4-bromobenzyl analogue displays higher activity than the 4-nitrobenzyl one, with IC50 values under 30 μM against five human cancer cell lines. Our results give evidence of the potential of the adamantane/isothiourea combination to render auspicious scaffolds for new potential chemotherapeutic agents.