Abstract A series of novel 3-substituted isoxazolecarboxamides have been prepared. A key step was 1, 3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to α, β-unsaturated esters. Some of these compounds exhibited high fungicidal activities against Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium culmorum, and Phytophthora cactorum. Graphical abstract