Abstract: | The conformational behaviour of isomeric phenylisoxazoles has been investigated at the STO-3G level optimizing the most significant geometrical parameters. The energy minima of the two isomers having an heteroatom in an ortho position correspond to planar structures, whereas the 4-isomer has a twisted equilibrium conformation. This confirms that H? H non-bonded repulsions are stronger than (lone-pair)-H ones. The similar conformational behaviour of corresponding phenylfurans and phenylisoxazoles shows that the second heteroatom has a negligible effect and that the conformational behaviour of non-fused biheterocycles is dictated by the nature of the ortho substituents. |