The atmospheric chemistry of two recently discovered biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 1-penten-3-ol and (Z)-2-penten-1-ol, has been studied at 298 K using an environmental chamber/FTIR apparatus. Rate coefficients for their reaction with OH (determined by the relative rate technique) were found to be (6.7 +/- 0.9) x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) and (10.6 +/- 1.5) x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for 1-penten-3-ol and (Z)2-penten-1-ol, respectively. Products observed (with molar yields in brackets) from the OH-initiated oxidation of these species in 1 atm air at 298 K were glycolaldehyde (47 +/- 6%) and formaldehyde (35 +/- 4%) from 1-penten-3-ol; and propanal (91 +/- 13%), glycolaldehyde (87 +/- 11%) and formaldehyde (11 +/- 2%) from (Z)-2-penten-1-ol. As a model for the more complex unsaturated alcohols, similar studies were also carried out on a simpler species, allyl alcohol (2-propen-l-ol, CH2=CHCH2OH). Reaction of this species with OH was found to proceed with a rate coefficient of (4.5 +/- 0.6) x 10(-11) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). Products observed were formaldehyde (98 +/- 12%), glycolaldehyde (90 +/- 12%), and acrolein (5 +/- 2%). Data obtained are used to assess the atmospheric fate and impact of the pentenols and to further develop structure-activity rules for the determination of OH rate coefficients with unsaturated species.