The synthetic process of Methyl isopropyl carbinol (CAS NO. ) contains 3 steps. The synthetic route is as follows:

In a 3 l three-necked flask, fitted with a mechanical stirrer, a separatory funnel, and a reflux condenser the upper end of which is protected by a calcium chloride tube, are placed 146 g (6 gram atoms) of dry magnesium turnings and about 250 cc of dry ether.

A solution of 600 g (4.9 moles) of isopropyl bromide in 300 cc of dry ether is then added through the separatory funnel. The reaction begins after about 15 cc of the solution has been added. The solution is added at such a rate that the reaction mixture refluxes gently. It is well to arrange to cool the flask with running water if the refluxing becomes too vigorous. The addition of the isopropyl bromide solution should require from three and one-half to four hours. The reaction mixture is refluxed on the water bath for forty minutes after addition of the isopropyl bromide solution is complete.

The flask is then cooled to -5°C, and a solution of 200 g (4.5 moles) of in 250 cc of dry ether is added at this temperature over a period of one hour.

After addition of the acetaldehyde solution is complete, the product is decomposed by pouring the reaction mixture onto 2 kg of cracked ice. The excess magnesium may be removed conveniently by decantation at this point. The basic magnesium halide is dissolved by addition of about 1 l of 15 per cent sulfuric acid. The ether solution is separated, and the aqueous layer is extracted with four 150 cc portions of ether. The ether solutions are combined, dried over 25 g of calcined potassium carbonate, filtered, and fractionally distilled, using a short column. The methyl isopropyl carbinol distils at 110–111.5°C. The fraction boiling at 37–109°C should be dried and refractionated. The total yield is 210–215 g (53–54 per cent of the theoretical amount).