A review of recent synthetic strategies and biological activities of isoxazole

Abstract Among different heterocyclic compounds, isoxazole and their analogues are very important classes of heterocyclic compounds as they display an extensive range of biological actions. This makes such scaffolds very important structures in the field of medicinal chemistry. From an extensive literature assessment, isoxazole is clinically proven to be very effective as an anti‐bacterial, anti‐fungal, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐cancer, anti‐tubercular, and anti‐neoplastic agent. The different derivatives of isoxazole which exhibits adjustment in their structure have shown a high degree of variety in their medicinal properties which makes evident them as very beneficial in the progress of novel bioactive drugs which show enhanced effectiveness along with minor harmfulness. Structural aspects of isoxazole having aromaticity with weaker nitrogen‐oxygen bonding provide a potential site for the ring cleavage. Thus, this isoxazole ring system allows easier modifications of substituents in their ring structure which consequently make isoxazole very useful intermediates in various synthetic routes of bioactive compounds. Hence, the synthesis and evaluation of isoxazole‐containing molecules with wider therapeutic consequences are always the topic of interest for chemists. Hence, in light of this comprehensive research on isoxazole, it is thought worthwhile to review various pathways for the synthesis of isoxazole analogues and having a broad spectrum of bioactive actions.