N-carbamoyl and N-acyl diamine derivatives were synthesized from symmetrical diamines by their addition to iso(thio)cyanates, cleavage reaction of acid anhydride, or N-acylation by acyl chloride. (1R,2R)-1,2-Diaminocyclohexane [(1R,2R)-1], meso-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (meso-1), (1R,2R)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine [(1R,2R)-3], or meso-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine (meso-3) were used as the starting symmetrical diamines. The target compounds synthesized herein were evaluated for antiviral activity with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). A few derivatives of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane [(1R,2R)-7aa and cis-7b] with adamantyl group(s) showed significant antiviral activity (EC(50)=16.0, 27.0 microg/ml).