Kojic Acid → 5-(benzyloxy)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4H-pyran-4-one

Participants

Reaction Steps

A suspension of 5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4H-pyran-4-one (56.8 g, 0.4 mole) in 400 ml of methanol was treated with sodium hydroxide, (16 g, 0.4 mole) in 200 ml of warm methanol followed by 50.6 g (46 ml, 0.4 mole) of benzyl chloride. The mixture was heated to reflux for 3.5 hours, cooled, and poured in 1 L of water. The resulting solid was filtered and washed with ca. 1.5 L of water, 200 ml of ethanol and 400 ml of hexane. After drying under high vacuum, the weight of product was 55.7 g.

Provenance & Evidence