Rate constants for the gas‐phase reactions of the OH radical with the cresols and dimethylphenols at 296 ± 2K

Using a relative rate technique, rate constants for the gas‐phase reactions of the OH radical with the three cresols and the six dimethylphenols have been determined at 296 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure. The rate constants for the cresols, which range from 4.3 × 10 −11 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 to 6.8 × 10 −11 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 , are in good agreement with previous literature data. The rate constants for 2,3‐, 2,4‐, 2,5‐, 2,6‐, and 3,4‐dimethylphenol are all in the range (6.6–8.1) × 10 −11 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 , with the rate constant for 3,5‐dimethylphenol being somewhat higher at 1.13 × 10 −10 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 . Rate constants estimated from the number, identity, and positions of the substituent groups around the aromatic ring agree to within a factor of approximately 2 with these experimentally determined rate constants.