Rate constants for the gas‐phase reactions of the OH radical with a series of aromatic hydrocarbons at 296 ± 2 K

Using a relative rate method, rate constants have been determined at 296 ± 2 K for the gas‐phase reactions of the OH radical with toluene, the xylenes, and the trimethylbenzenes. Using the recommended literature rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with propene of (2.66 ± 0.40) × 10 −11 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 , the following rate constants (in units of 10 −12 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 ) were obtained: toluene, 5.48 ± 0.84; o ‐xylene, 12.2 ± 1.9; m ‐xylene, 23.0 ± 3.5; p ‐xylene, 13.0 ± 2.0; 1,2,3‐trimethylbenzene, 32.7 ± 5.3; 1,2,4‐trimethylbenzene, 32.5 ± 5.0; and 1,3,5‐trimethylbenzene, 57.5 ± 9.2. These data are compared with the literature values.