109.5 _ 1.5o respectively.6 This data showed proof that adamantane was a stable compound, but how stable they did not know until the physical qualities were determined. The melting point was determined by sealed tube, and was found to be 269oC which is the melting point for adamantane exposed to the atmosphere as well as the highest melting point for a carbohydrate.9 It is unusual for such an occurrence, but adamantane has no end to its surprises. The exact boiling point of adamantane is impossible to be determined for it is incapable of being reached except by mixture with other carbohydrates at which time the boiling point is 190oC. It is this property that allowed adamantane to be discovered by fractionalization.6 The enigmatic nature of adamantane is reinforced by the fact that it has such a high melting and boiling point, yet it remains true that adamantane will sublime at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Now that adamantanes crysatlline structure is known along with the physical properties, what remains is for technology to fill in the blanks as far as molecular interactions of the compound. Adamantane was subjected to NMR and IR(Fig 1,2) Each test produced results that were unique for any carbohydrate upon which the same conditions were exerted.5 The most probable reason for such unique results is the symmetrical nature of adamantane. In fact, adamantane has a symmetry number of twelve which is unheard of in a carbohydrate. This means that throughout the structure there exists a combination of planes and axes about which adamantane is symmetrical or identical that totals twelve. Many compounds, organic and inorganic, are symmetrical in one or two dimensions, but few are symmetrical in three dimensions as adamantane is. ...
