Adamantanes were successfully converted into the corresponding mono-and dihydroxy adamantanes with molecular oxygen in the presence of N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) combined with cobalt salts under mild conditions. For example, exposure of adamantane under oxygen atmosphere in the presence of NHPI (10 mol%) and Co (acac) 2 (0.5 mol%) in acetic acid at 75° C for 6 h afforded adamantan-1-ol (43%) and adamantane-1, 3-diol (40 ...