The invention discloses a synthesis method of an antioxidant 1790 and belongs to chemical field. By adoption of the synthesis method, the problems of serious pollution, low raw material utilization ratio and high cost in the existing method are solved. The synthesis method is implemented by three steps of: (1) preparation of 4-tert-butyl-3-hydroxyl-2,6-dimethyl benzyl alcohol, wherein 2,4-dimethyl-6-tert-butyl phenol, concentrated hydrochloric acid and paraformaldehyde are stirred at the temperature of 40 DEG C and return for 50 hours to obtain 4-tert-butyl-3-hydroxyl-2,6-dimethyl benzyl alcohol, and the product does not need to be purified; (2) preparation of 4-tert-butyl-3-hydroxyl-2,6-dimethyl benzyl chloride, wherein hydroxyl groups of the 4-tert-butyl-3-hydroxyl-2,6-dimethyl benzyl alcohol are chloro-substituted by thionyl chloride to obtain the 4-tert-butyl-3-hydroxyl-2,6-dimethyl benzyl chloride, the product can be obtained by crystallization of methyl benzene and methyl alcohol, and after removal of a solvent, the crystallized mother liquor can be continuously used as a raw material; and (3) preparation of a 1790 product. The synthesis method disclosed by the invention has the advantages that the production cost is effectively reduced, the steps are simple and easy to operate, and the generated waste water is less, so that the industrial production is easy.