LAUSR

Abstract Reductive ring transformation of 3-substituted 5-(2-nitrophenyl)isoxazoles, readily accessible via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 2-ethinylnitrobenzene with nitrile oxides, opens a novel access to 2-substituted quinolin-4-ones. Nickel boride, generated in situ from nickel chloride and sodium borohydride, allows, via simultaneous reduction of the nitro group and reductive cleavage of the isoxazole ring, the one-step conversion into the target quinolin-4-ones. This protocol tolerates various functional groups, except olefins, and thus is complementary to the reductive ring transformation with iron/acetic acid, which predominantly tolerates olefins.