Fluorescence decay of tertiary aliphatic amines

The fluorescence decay of the tertiary aliphatic animes trimethylamine (TMA), triethylamine (TEA) and tri-n-propylamine (TPA) in the vapour phase excited between 260 and 215 nm has been shown to consist of a single, wavelength-dependent, component when the first excited state is uniquely excited, but two components when the first and second excited states are simultaneously excited. This dual exponentiality persists at pressures as low as 10 mTorr, and it is argued that the two-component decay does not arise from collisional vibrational relaxation.