Isoxazoles substituted with an electron-withdrawing group at the 4-position undergo electrochemical and yeast-catalysed N–O bond cleavage. The electrolysis is much more efficient and, with acyl-and alkoxycarbonyl-substituted isoxazoles, it affords the enolised dicarbonylimine functionality characteristic of the herbicide Grasp®. Regioisomeric 4-and 5- substituted isoxazoles are accessible through nitrile oxide cycloaddition chemistry, using ...