Provide the major product for the following reaction

• A.
• B.
• C.
• D.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the starting material as an ester with a beta-keto group, which is a common substrate for Claisen condensation reactions.
2. The first step involves the use of sodium ethoxide (NaOEt), a strong base, which will deprotonate the alpha hydrogen between the two carbonyl groups, forming an enolate ion.
3. In the second step, the enolate ion acts as a nucleophile and attacks the benzyl bromide (PhCH2Br) in an S_N2 reaction, resulting in the alkylation of the enolate.
4. The third step involves acidification with H₃O⁺, which will protonate the alkoxide ion formed during the reaction, leading to the formation of a beta-keto ester.
5. Finally, heating (Δ) will induce decarboxylation, removing the ester group and forming the final ketone product with a phenyl group attached to the alpha position.