Absolute rate constants for the reactions of the hydroxyl radical with benzene and toluene were measured within the temperature and pressure ranges 213 less than or equal to T less than or equal to 1150 K and 20 less than or equal to P less than or equal to 200 torr by using He, Ar, and SF/sub 6/ as diluent gases. To help elucidate the variations in reaction mechanism with temperature, we also studied OH reactions with deuterated benzene (C/sub 6/D/sub 6/) and with selectively deuterated toluenes (C/sub 6/H/sub 5/CD/sub 3/, C/sub 6/D/sub 5/CD/sub 3/, and C/sub 6/D/sub 5/CH/sub 3/). Three major reaction channels were characterized kinetically. At T less than or equal to 298 K, electrophilic addition of the OH radical to the aromatic ring is the dominant reactive pathway in all systems studied. At temperatures above 500 K, rapid decomposition of the thermalized adduct back to reactants diminishes the importance of the addition channel and leads to bimolecular reaction rate-constant values significantly lower than those measured near room temperature. At elevated temperatures, the ring hydrogen abstraction (for benzene) and side-chain hydrogen abstraction (for toluene) pathways are shown to be predominant. The measured bimolecular rate constants increase monotonically withmore » increases in temperature above 500 K, and kinetic separation of the two hydrogen abstraction modes for toluene is achieved.« less