Process for the preparation of adamantanes

To prepare adamantanes of the formula in which the substituents are as defined in Claim 1, adamantane or dimethyladamantane is reacted with olefins in the presence of a free radical as initiator. The resulting compounds can be used as intermediates for organic syntheses, for example for the synthesis of carboxylic acids which are used as lubricant additives, or they can be oxidised to give adamantol, which can be esterified with phosphoric acid or sulphuric acid, resulting in hydraulic oils. Some of the resulting adamantanes themselves can be used as insecticides or in pharmaceuticals for the treatment of influenza.