Methyl benzoate is treated with excess CH3MgBr, then H3O+, and the isolated alcohol is heated with conc. H2SO4. The final organic product is

acetophenone (1-phenylethanone)

JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3ap181

Methyl benzoate is treated with excess $CH X_{3} MgBr$ , then $H X_{3} O X^{+}$ , and the isolated alcohol is heated with conc. $H X_{2} SO X_{4}$ . The final organic product is

The ester takes two

CH X_{3} MgBr

to give

C X_{6} H X_{5} - C (CH X_{3}) X_{2} - OH

, 2-phenylpropan-2-ol. Heating with conc.

H X_{2} SO X_{4}

dehydrates this tertiary alcohol; the only beta hydrogens are on the methyls, so the product is

C X_{6} H X_{5} - C (CH X_{3}) = CH X_{2}

, 2-phenylpropene.