Consider the following chemical reaction: Identify the major product 'P' formed in the given reaction.

Step-by-step solution

The given reactant is ethyl 4-oxopentanoate, which contains both a ketone and an ester functional group. Sodium borohydride ( NaBH ₄ ) is a mild chemoselective reducing agent. It reduces aldehydes and ketones to their corresponding primary and secondary alcohols, respectively. It does not reduce esters, carboxylic acids, or amides under normal conditions. Therefore, the ketone group ( - CO - ) in the reactant is reduced to a secondary alcohol ( - CH(OH) - ), while the ester group ( - COOC ₂ H ₅ ) remains unaffected