Synthesis of trisubstituted isoxazoles by palladium(II)-catalyzed cascade cyclization-alkenylation of 2-alkyn-1-one O-methyl oximes.

A palladium-catalyzed, cascade 5-endo-dig cyclization-alkenylation synthesis of isoxazoles has been developed. The addition of 1 equiv of n-Bu(4)NBr significantly increases the yield of the desired 4-alkenyl-3,4,5-trisubstituted isoxazoles. A variety of trisubstituted isoxazoles are prepared in moderate to excellent yields. One example of the synthesis of a naphthoisoxazole is reported by a cascade cyclization-alkenylation-Heck reaction.