In the reaction:

the product is:

The correct answer is option 3.

The reaction of benzyl methyl ether (C₆H₅–CH₂–O–CH₃) with HI gives: C₆H₅–CH₂I + CH₃OH

Ethers react with HI by cleavage of the C–O bond after protonation of the oxygen.

1. First step: Protonation of ether oxygen

   The oxygen atom gets protonated by HI, forming an oxonium ion.

2. Second step: Nucleophilic attack by I⁻

   The bond breaks preferentially at the benzyl carbon because a benzyl carbocation is resonance stabilized.

3. Products formed

   • Benzyl iodide (C₆H₅–CH₂I)

   • Methanol (CH₃OH)

Thus the reaction is:

C₆H₅–CH₂–O–CH₃ + HI → C₆H₅–CH₂I + CH₃OH

The reaction will be as follows:

Mechanism: