A compound $C X_{8} H X_{8} O X_{2}$ is neutral to litmus, gives no effervescence with $NaHCO X_{3}$ and no colour with neutral $FeCl X_{3}$ . Boiling with aqueous NaOH and then acidifying gives benzoic acid, and the alcohol formed does not give iodoform test but its oxidation product gives a silver mirror with Tollens reagent. The compound is

Amethyl benzoate
Bphenyl ethanoate
C4-methylbenzoic acid
Dbenzyl methanoate

Answer: A

A neutral, FeCl3-negative ester excludes the acid and phenolic compounds (phenyl ethanoate would release phenol and 4-methylbenzoic acid effervesces). Benzoic acid as the acid part leaves

CH X_{3} OH

as the alcohol part, which is not iodoform positive and is oxidised to methanal, which reduces Tollens reagent. So the ester is

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

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Answer: A

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