The photophysical and photochemical properties of N-phthaloylmethionine (1), S-methyl-N-phthaloylcysteine methyl ester (2) and N-phthaloyltranexamic acid (3) were studied by time-resolved UV/Vis spectroscopy, using laser pulses at 248 or 308 nm. The quantum yield of fluorescence is low (F f`1 0 À2 ) for 1 ± 3 in fluid and glassy media, whereas that of phosphorescence is large (0.3 ± 0.5) in ethanol at À 196 8C. The triplet properties were examined in several solvents, at room temperature and below. The spectra and decay kinetics are similar, but the population of the p,p* triplet state, as measured by T ± T absorption, is much lower for 1 and 2 than for 3 or N-methyltrimellitimide (5') at ambient temperatures. The quantum yield (F D ) of singlet molecular oxygen O 2 ( 1 D g ) formation is substantial for 3 and 5' in several air-or oxygen-saturated solvents at room temperature, but small for 2 and 1. The quantum yield of decomposition is substantial (0.2 ± 0.5) for 3 and small (`0.05) for 2 and 1. It is postulated that photoinduced charge separation in the spectroscopically undetectable 3 n,p* state may account for the cyclization products of 1 and 2. In aqueous solution, this also applies for 3, whereas in organic solvents cyclization involves mainly the lower lying 3 p,p* state. Triplet acetone, acetophenone and xanthone are quenched by 1 ± 3 in acetonitrile; the rate constant is close to the diffusion-controlled limit, but smaller for benzophenone. While the energy transfer from the triplet ketone occurs for 3, a major contribution of electron transfer to the N-phthalimide derivative is suggested for 1 and 2, where the radical anion of benzophenone or 4-carboxybenzophenone is observed in alkaline aqueous solution.