Consider the following reaction,
PhenolXYZ
The product Z is
The given reaction sequence phenol to X (by Zn dust), then X to Y (by anhydrous AlCl3 and CH3Cl), and finally Y to Z (by alkaline KMnO4) is the oxidation of a side chain. It converts a methyl group to a carboxyl group, so the final product Z is benzoic acid.