A secondary alcohol 'P' on oxidation with CrO₃ gives compound 'Q'. Compound 'Q' can also be synthesized by the reaction of benzene with propanoyl chloride in the presence of anhydrous AlCl₃ . Identify the alcohol 'P'.

Step-by-step solution

The reaction of benzene with propanoyl chloride ( CH₃CH₂COCl ) in the presence of anhydrous AlCl₃ is a Friedel-Crafts acylation. It yields propiophenone (1-phenylpropan-1-one) as compound 'Q'. Compound 'Q' is also formed by the oxidation of a secondary alcohol 'P' with CrO₃ . Therefore, 'P' must be the secondary alcohol corresponding to propiophenone. Reducing the ketone group of 1-phenylpropan-1-one gives 1-phenylpropan-1-ol. Thus, 'P' is 1-phenylpropan-1-ol. 1-Phenylpropan-2-ol would oxidize to 1-phenylpropan-2-o