The present invention provides a compound of Formula I,wherein R1 is not H when R2 is H and R2 is not H when R1 is H, further wherein R1 is CnH(2n+1)O, wherein n is 1-10, R2 is OH or CnH(2n+1)O, wherein n is 1-10, A, B and R1, R2, R5, R6, and R7 are separately and independently selected from a group consisting of H, alkyl, hydroxyl, halo, nitro and aryl groups, R11 is an alkyl or an aryl group and L is an optional linker or linking group, with x=0 or 1, i.e., if x=0, no linking group is present, or a salt or prodrug or derivative thereof that is a skin-lightening agent useful for the inhibition of melanin synthesis and/or the removal of existing melanin to function as a skin-lightening agent.
