The chlorohydrin (II) is obtained by the reaction of p-chlorobenzylmagnesium chloride (I) with epichlorohydrin (A) in ether. This is then converted to the crystalline alcohol (III) by reaction with sodium imidazole (B) in DMF. On treatment with thionyl chloride is converted to the corresponding chloro compound (IV). When (IV) is reacted with 2,6-dichloro thiophenol (C) in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate in acetone, the free base of butoconazole is formed. Neutralization of the free base (V) with nitric acid gives butoconazole.