Reduction of Delta2-isoxazolines to beta-hydroxy ketones with iron and ammonium chloride as reducing agent.

A detailed study of a procedure for the selective reduction of Delta(2)-isoxazolines to the corresponding beta-hydroxy ketones is reported. The use of iron and ammonium chloride as the reducing agent in the presence of water results in a facile and chemoselective protocol for the preparation of beta-hydroxy ketones, including the conjugated beta-hydroxy ketones.