A convenient synthetic method to access hitherto unknown 3 (trifluoromethyl) and 3 (dif luoromethyl) 2,1 benzisoxazoles by the reaction of sodium azide with 1 (2 halophenyl) 2,2,2 trifluoroethanones or 1 (2 halophenyl) 2,2 difluoroethanones was developed. 3 Fluorometh yl 2,1 benzisoxazoles are versatile precursors for o fluoroacetylanilines.