Isobutyric Acid → 2,2,4-Trimethyl-1-pentanol

Saturated trisubstituted alchols, such as 2,2,4-trimethyl-1-pentanol, have been produced for decades via several different proesses. In British Patent Specification 1,288,615, published Sept. 13, 1972 and issued to B. Yeomans, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1-pentanol is produced by a multi-step process that involves the esterification of 2,2,4-trimethylpentane-1,3-diol with isobutyric acid to produce 3-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethylpentyl-1 isobutyrate, dehydration of the saturated hydroxyl ester to the unsaturated 2,2,4-trimethylpentenyl-1 isobutyrate, hydrogenation of the unsaturated ester to the saturated 2,2,4-trimethylpentyl-1 isobutyrate over a noble metal hydrogenation catalyst, and saponification of this saturated ester to 2,2,4-trimethyl-1-pentanol. In this reference the 2,2,4-trimethyl-1-pentanol is obtained by the saponification of the ester, not by a reduction process.