In this paper the results
of a lifetime study of the 1B1 state of pyrimidine vapour
in the pressure range 1.2-60 Pa are presented. These lifetimes show an
extraordinary pressure dependence, with collision cross-sections of 30-40 times
hard sphere. It is shown that pyrimidine behaves as a small molecule. The
collision-induced decay process is intersystem crossing and it is the most
effective collision-induced process yet reported for the small-molecule limit.</jats:p