Alkyl diamondoid fuel mixtures have been prepared under moderate conditions by AlBr3 catalyzed cracking of nonane and heptane in the presence of adamantane. The fuel mixture prepared with heptane as the alkyl source (HA) contains primarily 1-ethyl-3-methyl adamantane and 1-propyladamantane, while the mixture prepared from nonane (NA) contains primarily C-13-C-15 alkyl diamondoids. Both fuel mixtures exhibit densities greater than 0.9 g/mL and volumetric net heats of combustion approximately 10 and 6% higher than conventional jet and diesel fuels, respectively. The structural diversity of the fuel blends and presence of multiple branch sites lead to lower viscosities compared to pure alkyl diamondoid fuels. The lower molecular weight blend, HA, exhibits a 40 degrees C kinematic viscosity of 3.22 mm(2) s(-1) well within the specification for diesel fuel, and both blends have derived cetane numbers of >42, suggesting that they can be used directly in conventional diesel engines.