<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-05-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001023966</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ISONICS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ISON</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001111913</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ALEXANDER JAMES E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ISONICS CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5906 MCINTYRE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GOLDEN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80403</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>135455</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1165712</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.17</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-11-13</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-11-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-03-28</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-03-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrant</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-03-28</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-03-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.64</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-02-22</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.04</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-05-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-04-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                <footnoteId id="F12"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.96</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-02-14</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                <footnoteId id="F13"/>
                <footnoteId id="F14"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.15</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-05-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares held by the James and Carol Alexander Foundation, Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares held by spouse.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all securities held by his spouse and children and this report should not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This transaction is exempt by reason of Rule 16b-3(d).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">20,000 shares vest on November 13, 2001, and 20,000 shares vest on November 13th of each of the years 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.  All stock options are currently vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Options granted by resolution of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors as consideration for salary deferral.  The grant of the options is subject to acceptance by the reporting person by no later than April 30, 2002, which acceptance was received.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Warrants to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock vest on March 28, 2002.  The grant of the warrants is subject to acceptance by the reporting person by no later than Apil 30, 2002, which acceptance was received.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Options granted by resolution of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors pursuant to the 1996 Executives' Equity Incentive Plan.  The grant of the options is subject to acceptance by the reporting person, which acceptance was received on February 22, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Such incentive stock options vest at a rate of 20,000 shares immediately on the date of the grant (February 22, 2005) and 20,000 shares on each anniversary of the grant date in each of years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">Non-qualified options granted by resolution of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors pursuant to the 2005 Stock Option Plan.  The grant of the options is subject to acceptance by the reporting person, which acceptance was received on May 5, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">Incentive stock options granted by resolution of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors pursuant to the 2005 Stock Option Plan.  The grant of the options is subject to acceptance by the reporting person, which acceptance was received on February 14, 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F12">Such incentive stock options vest at a rate of 25,000 shares immediately on the date of acceptance (February 14, 2006) and 25,000 shares on February 9, 2007, February 9, 2008, and February 9, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F13">Non-qualified options granted by resolution of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors pursuant to the 2005 Stock Option Plan.  The grant of the options is subject to acceptance by the reporting person, which acceptance was received on May 23, 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F14">Options vest at a rate of 18,750 shares immediately on the date of acceptance (May 23, 2006) and 18,750 shares on May 5, 2007, May 5, 2008, and May 5, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James E. Alexander</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
