Abstract Reaction of 3-aryl-1-phenyl-2-nitropropenones 1 with potassium cyanide leads to 4- aryl-3-benzoyl-5-isoxazo-lamines 5 in a one-step process involving the formal reduction of the nitro group followed by nucleophilic attack at the cyano group. Treatment of the isoxazolamine with an aromatic aldehyde yields the corresponding N- arylideneisoxazolamine.
