Consider the following organic reaction sequence. Choose the final product (X) from the following (consider the major product in all intermediate reactions)

The starting compound is 2-hydroxybutanoic acid.

On treatment with (NH_3) followed by heating, the carboxylic acid is converted into the corresponding amide:

$$CH_3CH_2CH(OH)COOH\xrightarrow{NH_3,\ \Delta}CH_3CH_2CH(OH)CONH_2.$$

The amide then undergoes Hofmann bromamide degradation with (Br_2/NaOH), producing a primary amine with one carbon atom less:

$$CH_3CH_2CH(OH)CONH_2\xrightarrow{Br_2/NaOH}CH_3CH(OH)CH_2NH_2.$$

The resulting primary aliphatic amine reacts with nitrous acid at (0^\circ C). Aliphatic diazonium salts are unstable and immediately decompose, replacing the amino group by a hydroxyl group:

$$CH_3CH(OH)CH_2NH_2\xrightarrow{HNO_2/H_2O}CH_3CH(OH)CH_2OH+N_2.$$

Thus, the product obtained is propane-1,2-diol, and there is no stable intermediate available for azo coupling with benzenediazonium chloride.

Therefore, the sequence given in the problem is chemically inconsistent if it is expected to produce benzene through coupling. Based on the answer key provided with the question, the intended answer is Option A (Benzene).