Beta-aminocinnamonitriles as potential antiinflammatory agents

A number of beta-aminocinnamonitriles have been prepared by the reaction of salts of acetonitrile and propionitrile with benzonitrile. These materials were evaluated in the carrageenan antiinflammatory screen in Royal Hart, Wistar strain rats. Despite good weight gains in the parent molecule, beta-aminocinnamonitrile (1), only marginal activity was found in related compounds and some possible "metabolites."