An efficient route for the syntheses of β-hydroxychalcones containing benzofuran and benzothiophene rings is described. Isoxazolines obtained from oxime–olefin cycloadditions were reduced under pressure to a mixture of products. Isoxazoles obtained from Claisen aroylation of an ester and subsequent acid cyclization, or from isoxazolines via DDQ- mediated dehydrogenation, were subjected to catalytic hydrogenation followed by ...