University Chemistry ›› 2026, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (6): 434-440.doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202503125

• Between Teacher and Student • Previous Articles    

Stereoisomeric Analysis of Adamantane and Hexamethylenetetramine

Weifeng Yu1, Junqiao Zhuo2   

  1. 1 Chong Qing Chang Sheng Qiao Secondary School, Chongqing 401336, China;
    2 Chong Qing Academy of Education Science, Chongqing 400015, China
  • Received:2025-03-27 Accepted:2025-06-19 Published:2026-06-18
  • Contact: Weifeng Yu E-mail:yuweifeng209@163.com

Abstract: Through structural investigation of hexamethylenetetramine (C6H12N4), we developed a “tetrahedral” model for analyzing adamantane molecular structures using chemical spatial thinking. This study proposes a novel approach for examining stereoisomerism (particularly enantiomerism) in disubstituted adamantane and hexamethylenetetramine derivatives, characterized by three distinct substitution patterns: same-ring same-carbon, same-ring different-carbon, and different-ring different-carbon. Systematic analysis of disubstituted hexamethylenetetramine (C6H12N4) and adamantane (C10H16) stereostructures was conducted using this tetrahedral model. Notably, the three-dimensional tetrahedral model can be dimensionally reduced to a two-dimensional planar triangle configuration, thereby establishing an innovative methodology for stereostructural analysis of these disubstituted compounds. This approach may offer new perspectives for investigating analogous stereochemical systems.

Key words: Adamantane, Tetrahedral, Model, Spatial thinking