2-C-Methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (4), formed from 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate (3), is the first pathway-specific intermediate in the methylerythritol phosphate route for the biosynthesis of isoprenoid compounds in bacteria, algae, and plant chloroplasts. In this report, 4 was synthesized from 1, 2-propanediol (7) in seven steps with an overall yield of 32% and in an enantiomeric excess of 78%.