Phenyl methyl ketone is treated successively with (i) NaBH4 in methanol, (ii) excess I2 and NaOH with warming, and (iii) dilute HCl. The organic acid formed is

JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3co154

Phenyl methyl ketone is treated successively with (i) $NaBH X_{4}$ in methanol, (ii) excess $I X_{2}$ and $NaOH$ with warming, and (iii) dilute $HCl$ . The organic acid formed is

NaBH X_{4}

gives 1-phenylethan-1-ol,

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

. Iodine and base oxidise this to

C X_{6} H X_{5} COCH X_{3}

and then cleave it by the haloform reaction to

C X_{6} H X_{5} COO X^{-}

and

CHI X_{3}

. Acidification gives benzoic acid.