This study explores the potential energy surfaces of the S 0 , S 1 and T 1 states using ab initio theory to provide insight into the spectroscopy, photochemistry and reaction dynamics of propanal. Minima associated with the formyl potential energy coordinate in the S 1 and T 1 states are found to be $60 out-of-phase with the S 0 state. Furthermore, the excited states possess a pyramidal formyl carbon atom that leads to a double minimum at AE33 and AE49 for the S 1 and T 1 states, respectively. An exploration of the C-C dissociation coordinate on the T 1 surface, yielding the products CH 3 CH 2 þ CHO, shows that a three-fold potential due to the formyl torsion is still operational, resulting in three unique transition states that lead to dissociation. The lowest energy pathway to dissociation occurs at a barrier height of 4766 cm À1 and the energy of the products is found to be 1017 cm À1 , relative to the T 1 global minimum. Consequently, a reverse barrier of 3749 cm À1 is calculated. Parameters calculated for the lowest energy transition state geometry are distinctly different from structures inferred from experiment, which assumed an isotropic dissociation channel.