Efficient Syntheses of N-Alkyl-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4(1H)-pyridinones From Carbohydrate Precursors

Abstract N-alkyl-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4(1H)-pyridinones can be synthesised in reasonable yield from either 1-(3-hydroxy-2-furanyl)ethanone or O-galactosylisomaltol. Since these carbohydrate precursors can be produced from the disaccharide, a-D-lactose, a simple and inexpensive transformation into pyridinones is possible.