Identification of missing items in a reaction scheme

Question

Please help identify the missing items labelled 'a' to 'e' in the following reaction scheme:

Benzaldehyde > (Reagent a) > Benzyl alcohol > (Reagent b) > Benzyl chloride > (Reagent c) > Benzylmagnesium chloride > (Reagent d) > 2-phenylethanol > (Dess-Martin Periodinane/CH₂Cl₂) > Product e

Answer 1

Benzaldehyde -->. NaBH₄ --> Benzyl alcohol --> SOCl₂ (thionyl chloride) --> Benzyl chloride --> Mg, Diethyl ether (solvent) --> Benzylmagnesium chloride (Grignard reagent) --> Formaldehyde, H₃O⁺ --> 2-Phenylethanol --> Dess-Martin Oxidation --> Phenylacetaldehyde