A new synthesis pattern of adamantoyl esters of cellulose (AdTMSC) is described. The process was approached by two steps. The first one consists in the obtaining of trimethylsilylcellulose (TMSC), by reacting cellulose in N,N-dimethylacetamide/lithium chloride (DMA/LiCl) solution with chlorotrimethylsilane and hexamethyldisilazane. The AdTMSC was synthesized by reacting trimethylsilylcellulose with 1-adamantanecarbonyl chloride, at 130 degrees C. The obtained comounds were characterized by elemental analysis, H-1 and C-13 NMR, FTIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry method, and X-ray diffraction. From H-1 NMR spectroscopy and elemental analyses, the degree of substitution (DS) of the cellulose derivatives was established. The AdTMSC is soluble in common organic solvent like chloroform, THF, and DMSO. As revealed by C-13 NMR spectroscopy, a faster reaction takes place at the 0 (6)H group from AGU compared with O (2)H or O(3)H groups. Furthermore, other important properties were established by X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry method. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.