Please add discussion of a new study on benzene oxidation (Xu et al., 2020), as suggested by one of the reviewers (see below):

I have only minor suggestions in light of a recent study on benzene oxidation by Xu et al (2020 EST). Mechanisms explored in that study are complementary to the observations in this study and should be discussed here to aid the authors’ attempt to provide mechanistic understanding of benzene oxidation. For example, Xu et al. revealed a new reaction pathway of a multifunctional alkoxy radical, which is a potential mechanism to produce HOMs and could be added in the discussion. Further, the multifunctional alkoxy radical produces C5 and other fewer-carbon-containing products, which are possibly the building blocks for dimers with 8 or 9 carbons. Lastly, Xu et al. noted that epoxidation is an important pathway of ring-retained alkoxy radicals in benzene system. This pathway could lead to more diverse products of organic nitrates. For example, C6H7NO5, which is observed in this study and assigned to be R-OONO2, could be an epoxide hydroxynitrate. The authors are encouraged to further explore the study by Xu et al. and include related findings.

1. Xu, L.; Møller, K. H.; Crounse, J. D.; Kjaergaard, H. G.; Wennberg, P. O., New Insights into the Radical Chemistry and Product Distribution in the OH-Initiated Oxidation of Benzene. Environ Sci Technol 2020, 54 (21), 13467-13477.