Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Part 2

Acetic acid on reaction with SOCl2 gives acetyl chloride (A). Acetyl chloride undergoes Friedel-Craft acylation in presence of anhyd. AlCl3 and benzene to form acetophenone (B). Acetophenone reacts with KCN to give (C) the final product, i.e. 2-hydroxy-2-phenolpropionitrile. Hence, correct option is (a).