Conversion of Ethylbenzene to benzene

Explanation

To convert ethylbenzene to benzene, we will follow a two-step process involving oxidation and decarboxylation. Here’s the step-by-step solution:

### Step 1: Oxidation of Ethylbenzene to Benzoic Acid
1. **Starting Material**: Ethylbenzene (C6H5C2H5)
2. **Reagent**: Use alkaline potassium permanganate (KMnO4).
3. **Reaction**: Ethylbenzene is oxidized by KMnO4 in an alkaline medium, which leads to the formation of benzoic acid (C6H5COOH).
4. **Acidification**: After the oxidation step, the reaction mixture is acidified using dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl). This step helps in converting the potassium salt of benzoic acid formed during oxidation into benzoic acid itself.

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