Identify the major organic product formed in the following reaction sequence:

Step-by-step solution

The given reaction sequence involves three steps: Step (i): Benzyl chloride reacts with alcoholic KCN to undergo nucleophilic substitution, forming benzyl cyanide. C ₆ H ₅ CH ₂ Cl KCN (alc.) C ₆ H ₅ CH ₂ CN Step (ii): Benzyl cyanide undergoes complete acidic hydrolysis upon heating to form phenylacetic acid. C ₆ H ₅ CH ₂ CN H ₃ O ^+, C ₆ H ₅ CH ₂ COOH Step (iii): Phenylacetic acid undergoes decarboxylation when heated with soda lime ( NaOH and CaO ), resulting in the removal of the carboxyl group to yield toluene.