A procedure has been developed for the synthesis of functional isoxazole and isothiazole derivatives by reduction of (5-aryl-1,2-oxazol-3-yl)methoxybenzaldehydes to (5-aryl-1,2-oxazol-3-yl)methoxyarylmethanols and subsequent acylation of the latter with isoxazole-and isothiazolecarbonyl chlorides.1a, 2a, 4a-4d, R 1 = H, R 2 = 2-[(5-phenyl-1,2-oxazol-3-yl)methoxy]; 1b, 2b, 5a-5d, R 1 = H, R 2 = 2-{[5-(4-methylphenyl)-1,2oxazol-3-yl]methoxy}; 1c, 2c, 6a-6d, R 1 = H, R 2 = 4-{[5-(4-methylphenyl)-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]methoxy}; 1d, 2d, 7a-7d, R 1 = 4-MeO, R 2 = 2-{[5-(4-methylphenyl)-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]methoxy}; 1e, 2e, 8a-8d, R 1 = 3-MeO, R 2 = 4-{[5-(4-methylphenyl)-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]-methoxy}; 1f, 2f, 9c, 9d, R 1 = 3-EtO, R 2 = 4-{[5-(4-methylphenyl)-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]methoxy}; 3-9, R 3 = 5-phenyl-1,2-oxazol-3yl (a), 5-(4-methylphenyl)-1,2-oxazol-3-yl (b), 5-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-1,2-oxazol-3-yl (c), 4,5-dichloro-1,2-thiazol-3-yl (d).