Kinetics of the reaction of C₆H₅ with HBr and DBr

The rate constants for the reaction of C₆H₅ with HBr and DBr have been measured with the cavity–ring–down method in the temperature range of 297 to 523 K and 297 to 500 K, respectively. These rate constants can be effectively represented, in units of cm³/s, by (Formula Presented.) Both activation energies are similar and positive, contrary to those of alkyl radical reactions, all of which exhibit negative temperature dependencies. The difference, as pointed out before [1], could be accounted for by the electron‐withdrawing effect of the phenyl vis‐à‐vis the electron‐donating ability of the alkyls. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.