The structure of intermediate A in the following reaction is:
$$ ext{Cumene} \xrightarrow{O_2} A \xrightarrow

Question

The structure of intermediate A in the following reaction is:
$$	ext{Cumene} \xrightarrow{O_2} A \xrightarrow{H_3O^+} 	ext{Phenol} + 	ext{Acetone}$$

Accepted Answer

The reaction shown is the industrial method for the preparation of phenol from **Cumene** (isopropylbenzene). 
1.  **Oxidation:** Cumene is oxidised in the presence of air to form **Cumene hydroperoxide** (Intermediate A). In this step, the tertiary hydrogen atom of the isopropyl group is replaced by a hydroperoxy group ($-O-OH$).
2.  **Hydrolysis:** The intermediate Cumene hydroperoxide is then treated with dilute acid ($H_3O^+$), which causes it to undergo rearrangement and hydrolysis to yield **Phenol** and **Acetone** (propan-2-one) as a valuable by-product.

Structure of A: Isopropylbenzene where the $CH$ bond is converted to $C-O-O-H$.

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