Absorption oscillator strengths for electronic transitions involving Rydberg series (including the continuum) of formaldehyde, carbonyl fluoride and phosgene have been calculated with the molecular-adapted quantum defect orbital (MQDO) procedure. These compounds are known to play an important role in the evolution of the interstellar medium and the Earth's upper atmosphere. The results have been analysed on the grounds of the scarce comparative data found in the literature and by compliance with continuity across the ionisation threshold. The similarities observed between the calculated intensities of analogous transitions in the isovalent molecules F2CO and Cl2CO have served the purpose of assessing the quality of our calculations. New data, which may aid in future experimental measurements, are supplied. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.