The photodecomposition of several alkylbenzoylformates has been examined using quantum yield and laser flash photolysis techniques. The Norrish Type II reaction is a major triplet deactivation path in all substrates having γ-hydrogen atoms. Representative triplet lifetimes are 670, 500, and 310 ns, for the methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl esters, respectively, in 1:4 chlorobenzene: n-heptane at 298 K. Product studies suggest that several competing reactions are involved in the decay of the 1,4-biradical; some of these lead to highly absorbing (and presumably quenching) products, that make it essential to extrapolate quantum yields to "zero conversion" conditions.