Identify A, B and C in following reaction when phenol is treated with chloroform in presence of NaOH?

Step-by-step solution

The given reaction is the Reimer-Tiemann reaction. Chloroform reacts with aqueous NaOH to generate dichlorocarbene ( :CCl₂ ), which acts as an electrophile. Phenol is converted to the more reactive phenoxide ion by NaOH . The phenoxide ion attacks the dichlorocarbene at the ortho position. After proton transfer and rearomatization, the intermediate [A] formed is sodium 2-(dichloromethyl)phenolate. Its structure has an -ONa group and a -CHCl₂ group at ortho positions on the benzene ring. The -CHCl₂ group in intermed