Identify the major product formed in the following sequence of reactions:

Step-by-step solution

The given starting material is acetophenone ( C ₆ H ₅ COCH ₃ ). Step (i): Acetophenone is treated with a strong oxidizing agent, acidified sodium dichromate ( Na ₂ Cr ₂ O ₇ / H ^+ ) under heating. Methyl ketones undergo oxidative cleavage under these vigorous conditions to form carboxylic acids. The methyl group is oxidized and lost as CO ₂ , yielding benzoic acid ( C ₆ H ₅ COOH ). C ₆ H ₅ COCH ₃ Na ₂ Cr ₂ O ₇, H ^+, C ₆ H ₅ COOH Step (ii): The resulting benzoic acid is then reacted with ethanol ( CH ₃ CH ₂ OH ) in