A hitherto unknown class of chemical compounds, 2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-ones including derivatives and analogues thereof are disclosed herein. Methods for making compounds within said class are disclosed herein and includes, without limitation, at least the intermediates employed in the generation of said compounds. The invention also relates to the use of vinylogous 4H-pyrones, including but not limited to the hitherto unknown 2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-ones. Disclosed herein are methods comprising the step of exposing biological plant material to at least a compound of the invention to promoting bioactivity within said material. In another aspect in methods for promoting growth of plant material in, for example, smoke-responsive plant species by exposing said material to a compound of the invention are disclosed herein. More specifically, methods comprising the use of these compounds for promoting seed germination of a plant, for example, a smoke-responsive plant, are disclosed herein.