The syntheses of a novel trishomocubane hydantoin and its mono- and bis-protected t-Boc derivatives are described. The less nucleophilic N-3' nitrogen of the hydantoin ring is protected first when treated with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (t-Boc anhydride), possibly owing to steric hindrance by the bulky trishomocubane cage skeleton. More basic conditions were required to form the bis-protected t-Boc hydantoin with the same reagent. The structures of these novel compounds were elucidated with 2D NMR techniques. The proton spectrum of the trishomocubane skeleton is complex owing to major overlap of proton signals. A high-level DFT calculation was used to determine some of the crucial interatomic positions, which assisted with the elucidation of the structures. The assignment of proton and carbon signals of the three structures is described and it differs significantly from each other and also from the trishomocubanol precursor. The bis-Boc hydantoin is required for a more facile hydrolysis to the corresponding trishomocubane amino acid at room temperature.

In an attempt to resolve a racemic mixture of a trishomocubane hydantoin, the synthesis of a pair of novel diastereomers was obtained by protecting the racemic hydantoin with chlorocarbonic acid-(−)(R)-sec-butyl ester. An achiral i-propyl ester was first used to establish the procedure. The NMR elucidation of both the chiral and achiral N-protected hydantoins is described. Some proton and carbon NMR shifts on the cage are reversed when relative small changes on the protection group are introduced. The chiral centre on the protective group induced splitting of some carbon signals in the 13 C spectrum on the cage skeleton, but effective separation of the diastereomers could not be obtained. In a further attempt to demonstrate the potential use of the trishomocubane amino acid in peptide synthesis, the ethyl ester of the cage amino acid was synthesised. The structures of the amino acid derivatives were elucidated with 2D NMR techniques and the assignment of the NMR data is presented.

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