Direct Detection of Hydroxy‐Cyclohexadienyl in the Gas Phase by cw‐UV‐Laser Absorption

Formation of hydroxy‐cyclohexadienyl (HCHD), the product of the OH + benzene reaction, has been observed directly in the gas phase at 298 K using long‐path cw‐UV‐laser absorption at 308 nm. The absorption cross section at this wavelength is found to be (9.2 ± 2) · 10−18 cm2. The use of this technique to study directly the subsequent oxidation of HCHD by O2 is emphasized.