The isoxazole as a linchpin for molecules that target folded DNA conformations: selective lateral lithiation and palladation

3-(10′-Halo-9′-anthracenyl)-5-methyl-4-isoxazolecarboxylic acid ethyl esters served as a useful scaffold for highly efficient lateral metalation at the C(5), and Suzuki–Fu palladium catalyzed cross coupling at the C(10′).