Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Reduction of methyl 4-oxopentanoate with NaBH ₄ yields methyl 4-hydroxypentanoate. Reason (R): NaBH ₄ is a strong reducing agent that readily reduces ester groups to primary alcohols. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Step-by-step solution

Assertion (A) is true because NaBH ₄ is a chemoselective reducing agent that reduces ketones to secondary alcohols while leaving ester groups intact. Thus, the ketone group at C-4 in methyl 4-oxopentanoate is reduced to a secondary alcohol, forming methyl 4-hydroxypentanoate. Reason (R) is false because NaBH ₄ is a mild reducing agent and does not reduce esters, carboxylic acids, or amides. Stronger reducing agents like LiAlH ₄ are required to reduce esters to primary alcohols. Answer: Assertion (A) is true but Rea