Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>We present a new approach to disubstituted diamondoids from corresponding carboxylic acids. A dirhodium‐acetate‐catalyzed (1 mol‐%) nitrene insertion reaction of sulfamides was, for the first time, applied to intramolecular C–H functionalization reactions of rigid tricyclic frameworks. This straightforward approach enables the effective and regioselective synthesis of a variety of diamondoid‐based cyclic sulfamidates, which are synthetically valuable building blocks. Reductive deprotection of the sulfamidate moiety leads to corresponding 1,3‐amino alcohol derivatives. Oxidation of the sulfamidate moiety by KMnO<jats:sub>4</jats:sub> provides access to 1,3‐keto alcohols or imines. Finally, we report the synthesis of Vildagliptin<jats:sup>®</jats:sup> analogues as new antidiabetic drug candidates (DPP‐4 inhibitors).</jats:p>