Identify the major product formed in the following reaction sequence:

Step-by-step solution

Reaction of acetic acid ( CH ₃ CO ₂ H ) with SOCl ₂ produces acetyl chloride ( CH ₃ COCl ). Acetyl chloride reacts with the primary amine group of 3-methylaniline to undergo N-acylation, forming the amide N-(3-methylphenyl)acetamide. Reduction of this amide with LiAlH ₄ converts the carbonyl group to a methylene group, changing the - NHCOCH ₃ group to an - NHCH ₂ CH ₃ group. The final product is N-ethyl-3-methylaniline, which corresponds to the structure in option (C). Answer: