Synthesis of isoxazoles by hypervalent iodine-induced cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to alkynes

Treatment of oximes with hypervalent iodine leads to substituted isoxazoles via rapid formation of nitrile oxides. Reaction with terminal alkynes led to a series of 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles with complete regioselectivity and high yield, in a procedure mild enough to prepare a range of nucleoside and peptide conjugates. Exceptionally high reaction rates were found for the formation of 3,4,5-trisubstituted isoxazoles from a cyclic alkyne.