Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations are performed for studying the S-0-->T-1 excitation dynamics of psoralen compounds; namely, nonsubstituted psoralen, 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP), and 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP). The density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/D95V level are used for evaluating the atomic forces in every AIMD step. The specific behavior of 8-MOP in the T-1 state, which has been reported by the experimental study, is found to be due to a unique open-ring structure, which leads to a different spin distribution in comparison with the cases of psoralen and 5-MOP and further to a crossing between the S-0 and T-1 states. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.