Resonance Raman (RR) spectra and quantum chemical calculations were used to investigate the photodissociation dynamics of propanil in the S-2 state. The RR spectra indicate that the photorelaxation dynamics for the S-0 -> S-2 excited state of propanil is predominantly along nine motions: C = O stretch, nu(51) (1659 cm(-1)), ring C = C stretch, nu(50) (1590 cm(-1)), NH wag/ring C = C stretch, nu(49) (1534 cm(-1)), ring CCH in-plane bend/NH wag, nu(42) (1383 cm(-1)), NH wag/-CH2- rock, nu(41) (1353 cm(-1)), ring C = C stretch/NH wag/-CH2- rock in plane, nu(40) (1299 cm(-1)), Ph-NH stretch/ring CCH in-plane bend, nu(37) (1236 cm(-1)), ring CCH in-plane bend, nu(35) (1150 cm(-1)), -CH2CH3 twist, nu(33) (1080 cm(-1)), ring trigonal bend, nu(31) (1029 cm(-1)), ring CCH bend out-of-plane, nu(27) (899 cm(-1)), whole skeleton deformation in-plane, nu(20) (688 cm(-1)). Strong electron coupling between S-1 and S-2 of propanil is found by quantum chemistry calculations and depolarization spectra. The excited state dynamics of the S-2 state is discussed, and the results are compared with the previously reported results for formanilide to examine the Cl substitution effect.