NOVELTY - Preparation of a 2-phenylpropan-2-ol (I), comprises (a) coupling an aryl-alcohol compound (II) with a 1-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol compound (IV), in the presence of a metal catalyst, a first base, a first solvent and optionally a ligand, to produce a mixture comprising a ketone compound (V) and an enol compound (VI), (b) contacting the mixture of (V) and (VI) with a second base to isomerize (VI) to (V), and (c) reducing (V) in the presence of B-chlorodiisopinocampheylborane or a ruthenium catalyst, hydrogen, a third base, and a second solvent to produce (I).    USE - The process is useful for the preparation of (I) (claimed), useful as a backbone diol precursor or an intermediate used to produce montelukast sodium that is useful as a leukotriene antagonist and an agent for the treatment of asthma and other conditions mediated by leukotrienes such as inflammation and allergies (preferably allergic rhinitis).    ADVANTAGE - The less waste-generating process ensures rapid and efficient preparation of (I) with high yield and improved chemical purity and without using rare earth reagent thus eliminating the potential risk to the montelukast sodium supply in an environmentally friendly manner.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Preparation of a 2-phenylpropan-2-ol of formula (I), comprises (a) coupling an aryl-alcohol compound of formula (II) with a 1-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol compound of formula (IV), in the presence of a metal catalyst, a first base, a first solvent and optionally a ligand, to produce a mixture comprising a ketone compound of formula (V) and an enol compound of formula (VI), (b) contacting the mixture of (V) and (VI) with a second base to isomerize (VI) to (V), and (c) reducing (V) in the presence of B-chlorodiisopinocampheylborane or a ruthenium catalyst, hydrogen, a third base, and a second solvent to produce (I).    R1 = Br, I, phosphate or diazonium salt;    X = H, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, benzyl, -Si(R2)3, -C(O)R3, -C(O)OR4 or 2-tetrahydropyranyl; and    R2-R4 = alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or benzyl.    An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a process-1 for the preparation of (V), comprising the steps (a) and (b) as above per se.