1-Bromo-3,5-dimethyladamantane (I) is subjected to Ritter reaction with acetonitrile in the presence of H2SO4 to produce acetamide (II). This is further hydrolyzed to the aminoadamantane (III) employing NaOH in refluxing diethyleneglycol. Condensation of amine (III) with maleic anhydride (IV) leads to the maleamic acid (V), which is finally cyclized to the target maleimide upon heating in acetic anhydride in the presence of NaOAc.