2-(Chloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-4H-pyran-4-one: Kojic acid (10 g, 70.

4 mmol) was
dissolved in thionyl chloride (40 ml) and stirred at room temperature for 1 h. The
product crystallized during this time and was collected by filtration. The resulting
residue was washed with petroleum ether and re-crystallized from water giving a beige
solid (8.4 g, 75%).

Chemical Formula: C6H5ClO3. 1 H-NMR (DMSO-d6) d: 4.65 (2H, s), 6.56 (1H, s), 8.11
(1H, s), 9.30 (1H, s). 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6) d: 41.23, 113.23, 140.12, 146.02, 161.68,
173.72. ESI-MS m/z: 160.0 (Calcd for C6H5ClO3: 159.99).