Synthesis of functionally substituted isoxazole and isothiazole derivatives

Acylation of benzene and toluene with 5-phenyl- and 5-(p-tolyl)isoxazole-3-carbonyl chlorides gave 5-phenyl(or p-tolyl)isoxazol-3-yl phenyl(or p-tolyl)ketones which were reduced to the corresponding alcohols with sodium tetrahydridoborate in propan-2-ol. Selective reduction of the carboxy group in 4,5-dichloroisothiazole-3-carboxylic acid was achieved by the action of BH₃, and the aldehyde group in 4-formyl-2-methoxyphenyl 5-arylisoxazole-3-carboxylates and 4,5-dichloroisothiazole-3-carboxylates was reduced to hydroxymethyl group with sodium triacetoxyhydridoborate in benzene. Acylation of the resulting hydroxymethyl derivatives with 5-arylisoxazole- and 4,5-dichloroisothiazole-3-carbonyl chlorides afforded the corresponding esters containing two azole fragments in their molecules.