Phenyl- and pyridinyl-substituted 2,2,2-trifluoroethanols having anticonvulsant properties

A substituted phenol compound represented by Formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof. At least one of X and Y is CH, and the other one of X and Y is N or CH. R1 is C1-C4 alkyl or C1-C4 haloalkyl. R2 is C1-C4 alkyl, or halogen. R3 is H, C1-C4 alkyl, aryl, or —(CH2)n-aryl, in which n is 1, 2, or 3. The compound is useful as anticonvulsant.