Tromantadine is an
antiviral medicine
Antiviral drugs are a class of medication used for treating viral infections. Most antivirals target specific viruses, while a broad-spectrum antiviral is effective against a wide range of viruses. Unlike most antibiotics, antiviral drugs do n ...
used to treat
herpes simplex virus
Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), also known by their taxonomical names ''Human alphaherpesvirus 1'' and ''Human alphaherpesvirus 2'', are two members of the Herpesviridae#Human herpesvirus types, human ''Herpesviridae'' family, a ...
. It is available in a topical gel under trade names Viru-Merz and Viru-Merz Serol. Its performance is similar to
aciclovir
Aciclovir (ACV), also known as acyclovir, is an antiviral medication. It is primarily used for the treatment of herpes simplex virus infections, chickenpox, and shingles. Other uses include prevention of cytomegalovirus infections following tra ...
.
Like
rimantadine
Rimantadine (INN, sold under the trade name 'Flumadine'') is an orally administered antiviral drug used to treat, and in rare cases prevent, influenzavirus A infection. When taken within one to two days of developing symptoms, rimantadine can ...
,
amantadine
Amantadine, sold under the brand name Gocovri among others, is a medication used to treat dyskinesia associated with parkinsonism and influenza caused by type A influenzavirus, though its use for the latter is no longer recommended due to wi ...
, and
adapromine
Adapromine is an antiviral drug of the adamantane group related to amantadine (1-aminoadamantane), rimantadine (1-(1-aminoethyl)adamantane), and memantine (1-amino-3,5-dimethyladamantane) that is marketed in Russia for the treatment and preventio ...
, tromantadine is a derivative of
adamantane
Adamantane is an organic compound with a formula C10H16 or, more descriptively, (CH)4(CH2)6. Adamantane molecules can be described as the fusion of three cyclohexane rings. The molecule is both rigid and virtually stress-free. Adamantane is the m ...
.
Mechanism
Tromantadine inhibits the early and late events in the
virus
A virus is a wikt:submicroscopic, submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living Cell (biology), cells of an organism. Viruses infect all life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and ...
replication cycle.
It changes the
glycoprotein
Glycoproteins are proteins which contain oligosaccharide chains covalently attached to amino acid side-chains. The carbohydrate is attached to the protein in a cotranslational or posttranslational modification. This process is known as g ...
s of the host cells, therefore impeding the absorption of the virus. It inhibits penetration of the virus. It also prevents
uncoating of the
virion
A virus is a submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism. Viruses infect all life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea.
Since Dmitri Ivanovsky ...
s.
Synthesis

Amide formation between
amantadine
Amantadine, sold under the brand name Gocovri among others, is a medication used to treat dyskinesia associated with parkinsonism and influenza caused by type A influenzavirus, though its use for the latter is no longer recommended due to wi ...
and
chloroacetyl chloride
Chloroacetyl chloride is a chlorinated acyl chloride. It is a bifunctional compound, making it a useful building block chemical.
Production
Industrially, it is produced by the carbonylation of methylene chloride, oxidation of vinylidene chl ...
gives N-Adamantan-1-yl-2-chloro-acetamide
689-59-8(1). Ether formation with
Deanol (2) then completes the synthesis of tromantadine (3).
References
External links
Viru-Merz website
Anti-herpes virus drugs
Adamantanes
Acetamides
Dimethylamino compounds
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