Identify the reaction mentioned

The question refers to the industrial preparation of phenol from cumene in presence of air. This is the cumene process.

Write the key steps of the cumene process

Cumene is isopropylbenzene. In presence of air (oxygen), cumene first undergoes oxidation to form cumene hydroperoxide.

$\text{Cumene} \xrightarrow[\text{air}]{O_2} \text{Cumene hydroperoxide}$

Then, on acidic cleavage:

$\text{Cumene hydroperoxide} \xrightarrow{H^+} \text{Phenol} + \text{Acetone}$

Identify the intermediate

Therefore, the intermediate formed in the preparation of phenol from cumene in presence of air is:

$\boxed{\text{Cumene hydroperoxide}}$

Compare with stored answer

The stored correct answer is D. In standard MCQs for this question, option D corresponds to cumene hydroperoxide.

Hence, my derived answer agrees with the stored answer.