homologues with hydroxylamine were found to give 4-nitro-5(2H)-isoxazolone. These results were rationalized by double ring transformations in sequence. The fact that the 4-position of the 4-pyridone behaved as an electrophlic site was the first example in this series of ring transfomations, and was caused by the alpha-effect of the reagent. Some reactions of the isoxazolone were carried out.