The photolysis of furaldehyde vapour at 253.7 nm, 65 °C, and pressures from about 0.2 to 7 torr, produces CO, propyne, allene, furan, cyclopropene, CO2, and C2H2. The quantum yield of CO approaches 2 at low pressure and decreases towards zero with increasing pressure of furaldehyde or added CO2. Yields of the other products also decrease but show a more complex pressure dependence. A mechanism involving excited furaldehyde and excited C4H4O and C3H4 intermediates is suggested.The Hg(3P1)-photosensitized decomposition gives products very similar to those of the direct photolysis. Photolysis at 313 and 366 nm also leads to similar products but in much lower yields, with the major product, CO, having a quantum yield of about 0.01. Some photopolymerization was observed in all Systems.