6-[3-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-5-([E]-styryl)-isoxazol-4-ylmethoxy]-nicotinic acid methyl ester (6.35 g, 14.2 mmol) was treated with osmium(VIII) oxide (90.3 mg, 355 μmol), sodium metaperiodate (12.2 g, 56.8 mmol) and benzyltriethylammonium chloride (1.32 mg, 5.68 mmol) in dioxane (140 mL) and water (47 mL). The mixture was heated for 35 min at 120° C. in a microwave. Extraction with ethyl acetate/water and chromatogaphy (silica, ethyl acetate:heptane 1:9 to 1:1) afforded the title compound (3.43 g, 65%) as a white solid. MS: m/e=373.1 [M+H]+.
