An efficient new synthesis of 3,5-bis­(het)­arylisoxazoles, involving the reaction of 1,3-bis­(het)­arylmonothio-1,3-diketones with sodium azide in the presence of IBX catalyst, has been reported. The reaction proceeds at room temperature in high yields and is applicable to a broad range of substrates including the synthesis of 5-methyl-3-arylisoxazoles, a key subunit present in several β-lactamase-resistant antibiotics. A probable mechanism for the formation of isoxazoles has been suggested. A few of the 5-styryl/arylbutadienyl-3-(het)­arylisoxazoles have also been synthesized by reacting the corresponding 1-(het)­aryl-1-(methylthio)-4-(het)­arylidene-but-1-en-3-ones with sodium azide at higher temperatures. The reaction of β-ketodithioesters with sodium azide is shown to furnish β-ketonitriles in good yields.