Generation of an 4-Isoxazolyl Anion Species: Facile Access to Multifunctionalized Isoxazoles

A direct functionalization of unsubstituted isoxazole (1) was achieved by generation of 4-isoxazolyl anion species (3). An efficient 4-iodination of isoxazole and halogen-metal exchange reaction using a turbo Grignard reagent (iPrMgCl⋅ LiCl) were essential for the generation of 3, which reacted with various electrophiles to give 4-functionalized isoxazoles in good to high yields. Isoxazolyl boronate, boronic acid, and stannane were also synthesized as useful building blocks from 1. The current methods enabled us to synthesize multi-functionalized isoxazoles by introducing each substituent into the desired positions. Furthermore, total synthesis of triumferol, which was isolated from Triumfetta rhomboidea, was achieved from 1 in only three steps.