Acetophenone is subjected to the following sequence of reactions: (i) CH₃MgBr , followed by H₃O^+ (ii) Conc. H₂SO₄ , (iii) B₂H₆ followed by H₂O₂ / OH^- (iv) Pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) The major product formed at the end of the sequence is :

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Acetophenone reacts with methylmagnesium bromide (Grignard reagent) followed by acidic workup to undergo nucleophilic addition, forming a tertiary alcohol, 2-phenyl-2-propanol. Step 2: Heating 2-phenyl-2-propanol with concentrated H₂SO₄ causes acid-catalyzed dehydration, yielding 2-phenylpropene as the major product. Step 3: Hydroboration-oxidation of 2-phenylpropene with B₂H₆ followed by H₂O₂ / OH^- results in anti-Markovnikov addition of water, producing the primary alcohol, 2-phenyl-1-propanol. Step 4: P