Patent ID: 8044214

Claim:
A process for preparing an isoxazole compound of the formula (I): the process comprising: contacting a nitroaryl of the formula (II): with an alkyl acetoacetate of the formula (III) or a salt thereof: in the presence of an activating agent and a base, under conditions sufficient to provide the isoxazole compound, wherein Ar is phenyl, naphthyl, or biphenyl, each of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 groups independently selected from methyl, chloro, bromo, fluoro, iodo and trifluoromethyl; R 1 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl or cycloalkyl; and R 2 is C 1 -C 12 alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or aralkyl, each of which is optionally substituted with halogen or trifluoromethyl.