Show how each of the following compounds can be converted to benzoic acid.
Ethylbenzene
In the presence of nascent oxygen i.e. [O] along with KMnO4/ KOH(it is a very strong oxidizing agent which oxidizes the whole alkyl group to carboxylic salt) followed by hydrolysis leads to the formation of benzoic acid. Carbon dioxide and water are formed as byproducts.