4, 4'-Dibromo-, 4-bromo-, 4, 4'-dichloro-, 4-chloro-, 4-methyl-, 4, 4'-dimethyl-, 4-phenyl-, 4- carbomethoxyl-, 4-cyano-, 4-cyano-rl'-methyl-, and 4, 4'-dimethyldiphenyldiazomethane were studied by laser flash photolysis. Excitation of the diazo compounds at 308 nm produced the corresponding diarylcarbenes. The kinetics of the reaction of the substituted carbenes with alkanes and methanol were examined. Hydrogen abstraction rates are ...