Ethyl 4-acetyl-5-methyl-3-isoxazolyl carboxylate was smoothly lithiated at the 5-methyl position, when the 4-acetyl group was protected with a 5, 5-dimethyl-1, 3-dioxanyl group. The lithio anion was quenched with a variety of electrophiles such as alkyl halides, aldehydes, TMSCl, and Me3SnCl in good to excellent yields. The lithiation of the unprotected compound and the 4-acetyl group protected as 1, 3-dioxolanyl both failed. ...