Cyanophenoxy carboxylic acid compounds and compositions for delivering active agents

A compound selected from the group consisting of compounds:

• 3
• and salts thereof,
• wherein
• R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are independently H, —CN, —OH, —OCH3, or halogen, at least one of R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 being —CN;
• and
• R6 is C1-C12 linear or branched alkylene, alkenylene, arylene, alkyl(arylene) or aryl(alkylene), with the proviso that when R1 is —CN, R4 is H or —CN, and R2, R3, and R5 are H, then R6 is not (CH2)1.