A novel sulfonate flame retardant, 1,3,5,7-tetrakis(phenyl-4-sodium sulfonate)adamantane (FR-A), was successfully synthesized from 1-bromoadamantane in sequential four-step reactions involving Fiedel-Crafts phenylation, sulphonation, hydrolysis, and neutralization. The success of synthesis was confirmed by FTIR spectra, $^1H$ NMR spectra, elemental analyses and mass spectra. The effect of FR-A on the flame retardacy of polycarbonate (PC) has been studied. Limiting oxygen index (LOI) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that this novel sulfonate flame retardant had effective flame retardancy on polycarbonate (PC). With a small amount (0.08 wt%) of FR-A, the flame retardancy of PC was improved obviously, which got to UL 94 V-0 rating. TGA and DTA curves demonstrated that the additive raised the degradation rate of PC by promoting the quick formation of an insulating carbon layer on the surface, and confirmed that the flame retardant mechanism of PC/FR-A system was similar to potassium diphenylsulfone sulfonate (KSS).