fumaric malic maleic tartaric citric benzoic methansulfonic or carbonic acids the compounds of general formula 1 possess useful pharmaceutical properties in particular they possess useful antiepileptic properties these activities were assessed by standard methods antiepileptic activity was measured by assessing a compound 39 s ability to prevent the hind limb tonic extension component of the seizure in groups of mice induced by maximal electroshock mes after oral or intraperitoneal administration according to the procedures of the epilepsy branch nincds are published by r j porter et al cleve clin quarter 1984 51 293 and compared to the standard agents dilantin and phenobarbital activities ed 50 39 s in the range of 10 400 m k after oral administration in this assay system were obtained the following non limiting illustrations and examples are provided to exemplify the preparation of the intermediate amines of formula 2 and their conversion to the novel compounds of general formula 1 this compound was prepared by suitable modification of the procedures described by christol bull soc chim fr 1963 4 877 and ho and smith tetrahedron 1970 26 4277 as follows to a suspension of sodium cyanide 34 3 g 0 7 mol in 500 ml of glacial acetic acid and 100 ml of n butylether at 0.