α-Ketoisovalerate undergoes hydroxymethylation to give ketopantoate:
:(CH)CHC(O)CO + CHO  →  HOCH(CH)CC(O)CO
This conversion is catalyzed by ketopantoate hydroxymethyltransferase.
Like many α-ketoacids, α-ketoisovaleric acid is prone to decarboxylation to give isobutyraldehyde:
:(CH)CHC(O)COH  →  (CH)CHCHO  +  CO
Genetic engineering has been used to produce the biofuel isobutanol by reduction of isobutyraldehyde obtained from ketoisovalerate.