Preparation of 2-hydroxybenzamidines from 3-aminobenzisoxazoles

2-Hydroxybenzamidines have been prepared from 3-aminobenzisoxazoles by reductive cleavage of the nitrogen–oxygen bond using catalytic hydrogenation, Zn/AcOH or NiCl2/NaBH4. This ring-opening reaction can be accomplished chemoselectively in the presence of a variety of hydrogenation-sensitive functional groups including an aryl bromide, benzyl carbamate, and olefin.