A series of compounds containing the 3-hydroxy-4H-pyran-4-one nucleus has been synthesized and tested as potential skeletal muscle relaxants. Reduction of 2-(azidomethyl)- 5-hydroxy-4H-pyran-4-one(4) with HBr in HOAc-phenol yielded 2-(aminomethyl)-5-hydroxy- 4H-pyran-4-one (kojic amine, 3) in 81 70 yield. Reaction of 2-1 (tosy1oxy)-methyl]-5- (benzyloxy)-4H-pyran-4-one (5) with NH, gave a 40% yield of the 0-benzyl ether of kojic ...
