Identify the suitable reagent for the following conversion: $Ph-C(=O)-OCH_3$ $\longrightarrow$ $Ph-CHO$
\( \text{M} \xrightarrow{\text{CH}_3\text{MgBr}} \text{N} + \text{CH}_4 \uparrow \xrightarrow{\text{H}^+} \text{CH}_3\text{COCH}_2\text{COCH}_3 \)
Identify the ion having 4f\(^6\) electronic configuration.