Grignard (Comptes Rendus, 1900 et seq.) showed that aldehydes combine with magnesium alkyl iodides (in absolute ether solution) to form addition products, which are decomposed by water with the formation of secondary alcohols, thus from acetaldehyde and magnesium methyl iodide, isopropyl alcohol is obtained.
Reduction by sodium amalgam converts it into isopropyl alcohol; oxidation by chromic acid gives carbon dioxide and acetic acid.
Isopropyl myristate, cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol have moisturizing properties.
On distillation with zinc dust it forms cymene (1.4 methyl isopropyl benzene).
Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol can also remove urushiol on both skin and household objects.