Does CH₃ addition to C₆H₆ occur as reported?

The kinetics of the CH₃ + C₆H₆ reaction has been investigated by modeling the existing data obtained by Holt and Kerr [Int] Chem Kinet 1977, 9, 185.1. The result of the modeling suggests that the yields of CH₄ measured in the UV photolysis of mixture of (CH₃CO)₂, i-C₄H₁₀, and C₆H₆ and employed in their analysis of the CH₃ + C₆H₆ kinetics could be quantitatively predicted by the reactions of CH₃ with i-C₄H₁₀ and alkyl radicals present in the system, independent of the CH₃ + C₆H₆ reaction. The CH₃ + C₆H₆ reaction was concluded to be insignificant under the conditions employed on account of the instability of the C₇H₉ radical adduct and the strong C-H bonds in benzene, which prevent the occurrence of the simple abstraction process.