Two carbon homologation of isoxazole-4-carbinols was performed by reac
tion of lithio-2,4,4-trimethyl-Delta(2)-oxazoline 1 with 4-chloromethy
l-isoxazole 2, followed by trans-esterification and reduction to the i
soxazole-4-propanols 5a and b. Alternatively, 2,4-diketones 6 were alk
ylated with 1-bromo-3-chloro-propane, and the chloro ketones 7 treated
with hydroxylamine to give isoxazole-4-propanols, 5a-c.