Benzene is treated with CH3Cl in the presence of anhydrous AlCl3 to give A. A is heated with alkaline KMnO4 and then acidified to give B. B is

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Benzene is treated with $CH X_{3} Cl$ in the presence of anhydrous $AlCl X_{3}$ to give A. A is heated with alkaline $KMnO X_{4}$ and then acidified to give B. B is

Friedel-Crafts alkylation gives toluene (A). Alkaline

KMnO X_{4}

oxidises any alkyl side chain with a benzylic hydrogen completely to

- COOH

, so B is

C X_{6} H X_{5} COOH

(benzoic acid), not an intermediate oxidation product.