Does CH 3 addition to C 6 H 6 occur as reported?

The kinetics for the CH 3 + C 6 H 6 reaction has been investigated by modeling the existing data obtained by Holt and Kerr [Int J Chem Kinet 1977, 9, 185.]. The result of the modeling suggests that the yields of CH 4 measured in the UV photolysis of mixtures of (CH 3 CO) 2 , i ‐C 4 H 10 , and C 6 H 6 and employed in their analysis of the CH 3 + C 6 H 6 kinetics could be quantitatively predicted by the reactions of CH 3 with i ‐C 4 H 10 and alkyl radicals present in the system, independent of the CH 3 + C 6 H 6 reaction . The CH 3 + C 6 H 6 reaction was concluded to be insignificant under the conditions employed on account of the instability of the C 7 H 9 radical adduct and the strong CH bonds in benzene, which prevent the occurrence of the simple abstraction process. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 803–807, 2001