Organic reaction?

Question

I have benzoic acid, the first step of the reaction says NaOH/H2O.

I am confused about this step, would i simply deprotonate the acid?

Then i have benzoyl chloride.

Again, confused. would the oxygen on the carbonyl attack one of the deprotonated oxygens?

Then I have LiAlH4 (excess), and then H2O. so i get rid of the oxygens...do i really have dibenzyl ether?

And the last step, is chromic acid.........

what the h**l, so i have benzoic acid again? all that work for nothing?

Answer 1

I have benzoic acid, the first step of the reaction says NaOH/H2O.

I am confused about this step, would i simply deprotonate the acid?

Yes

Again, confused. would the oxygen on the carbonyl attack one of the deprotonated oxygens?

No, the deprotonated carboxyl oxygen will attack the carbonyl and displace the chloride to give an anhydride.  

Then I have LiAlH4 (excess), and then H2O. so i get rid of the oxygens...do i really have dibenzyl ether?

No you probably will get benzyl alcohol out of that.

And the last step, is chromic acid.........

what the h**l, so i have benzoic acid again? all that work for nothing?

Yes this is why students hate organic chemistry.  Your professor could have assigned a homework question that actually made practical use of those reagents and reactions for a meaningful synthesis, but unfortunately he or she was apparently too lazy or ignorant to do so.