The photophysics of the S 2 1 (ππ*) state of the polycyclic aromatic nitrogencontaining hydrocarbon (PANH) quinoline is investigated in a free jet using a picosecond laser system. A [1 + 1] multiphoton ionization spectrum yields the S 2 origin at around 32 200 cm −1 and reveals several vibronic bands. In time-resolved experiments, quinoline is then excited between 312.2 and 279.7 nm. Probe wavelengths of 351 and 263.5 nm are employed. The dynamics is monitored by time-resolved photoelectron imaging. The images reveal a shortlived band at high electron kinetic energies with a ps lifetime and a band at lower electron kinetic energies that shows an offset at long delay times. In comparison with previous work, the offset is assigned to ionization from the T 1 state. Lifetimes decrease from 45 ps at the S 2 origin to 11 ps at +3550 cm −1 . Most likely, the S 2 1 (ππ*) state deactivates by internal conversion to the S 1 1 (nπ*) state, followed by intersystem crossing to the triplet manifold.