0.99 g (6.0 mmole) of N-methyl-N-phenyl-2-hydroxyacetamide was dissolved in THF (6 ml) and the solution was mixed with 0.75 g (6.0 mmole) of 90% potassium t-butoxide with ice cooling. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes and then 1.24 g (5.0 mmole) of 3-trifluoromethyl-4-phenyl-5-chloroisoxazole was added dropwise to the mixture. After being stirred for 30 minutes, the mixture was refluxed for 24 hours. After cooling the reaction mixture, 60 ml of methylene chloride was added and the mixture was washed with a 5% solution of HCl and water. The methylene chloride phase was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel to give 1.15 g of colorless crystals. These were recrystallized from n-hexane to give 950 mg of the titled compound, yield 50.5%, m.p. 93.0°-94.0° C.
