Real-time optical spectroscopy and imaging measurements were used to examine physical and chemical changes in liquid benzene multiply shock compressed to peak pressures of 0.6-13 GPa on sub-mu s time scales. In contrast to static pressure data, the results show no liquid-solid transition or other changes occurring on the time scales and the pressure range of the present experiments. These findings demonstrate that the benzene response is strongly time-dependent, and the static pressure phase diagram cannot be used directly on sub-mu s time scales. In particular, benzene remains a liquid even at pressures well above the pressure threshold for freezing in static studies. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.