A nanosecond laser Hash photolysis study was undertaken on a selected range of 2-substituted anthraquinone derivatives and the data are discussed in relation to the photoactivities in industrial photopolymerization. All the compounds give rise to a triplet-triplet absorption that is quenched by ground-state molecular oxygen. The transient half-lives range from 0.64 to 11.3 mu s of which the 2-(1,1-dibromomethyl)anthraquinone exhibits the longest life time. In a reductive solvent, 2-propanol, hydrogen atom abstraction takes place with the compounds having the lowest-lying tripler (3)n pi* state, whereas those with a low-lying triplet (3) pi pi* state show mixed kinetics. In the latter case, a disproportionation reaction involving the semianthraquinone radical may be taking place, competing with the direct hydrogen atom abstraction reaction. In addition, investigation of the halogenated derivatives has indicated the possibility of the corresponding halo radicals being formed. In the presence of a tertiary amine, triethylamine, all anthraquinone derivatives show the formation of stable species related to either the exciplex or the radical ion pair. The extent of exciplex formation is more effective with compounds possessing a lowest-lying triplet (3) pi pi* excited state than those with a triplet (3)n pi* excited state. The results from the nanosecond laser flash photolysis study show the differences in behavior toward hydrogen atom abstraction and electron transfer processes that is dependent on the nature of the low-lying tripler state and the type of substituent present, i.e., electron-donating or electron-withdrawing.