The excited state properties of uracil, thymine and four analogous uracil compounds have been studied in acetonitrile by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy. The excited state lifetimes were measured using femtosecond UV fluorescence upconversion. The excited state lifetimes of uracil and its 1- and 3-methyl substituted derivatives are well described by one ultrafast (<= 100 fs) component. Five substituted compounds show a more complex behavior, exhibiting longer excited state lifetimes and bi-exponential fluorescence decays. These longer decays are substantially faster in acetonitrile than in aqueous solution showing that the excited state deactivation mechanism is in part governed by the solvent. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.