[gigantictager1]

Hi, was wondering on what effect steps 2 to 5 would have in the formation of the product, I think step one causes the hydrogens from the central carbon atom to be abstracted due to resonance, and the reagent being a base. Not sure what the other steps would do

[Babcock_Hall]

Try drawing the product of the first step (assuming that one hydrogen is removed as a proton) and the reagent for the second step.  Then think about how the two could react.  It is best to take a problem like this one step at a time.