AbstractThe bimolecular rate constants kq for quenching of singlet oxygen (1Δg state) by 26 different natural and novel synthetic carotenoids were determined at 37 °C in a mixture of chloroform and ethanol. The steady‐state technique used involves the generation of 1O2 by thermal decomposition of disodium 3,3′‐naphtalene‐1,4‐diyl‐dipropionate endoperoxide (NDPO2) and the detection of its luminescence intensity at 1270 nm. Excitation energies (π,π*, 11Ag → 11Bu) and absorption maxima (430–590 nm) vary in the broadest range. Deeply coloured blue carotenoids are also included in the studies for the first time. An empirical correlation between the π,π* (11Ag → 11Bu) excitation energy and carotenoid structure (effective chain length Neff) was found: E(S) = 12642 cm−1 + 92027 cm−1 × 1/Neff. The quenching ability of the investigated carotenoids depends on the excitation energy of their transition at long wavelengths in a characteristic way showing as limiting factors either the thermal Arrhenius activation or the diffusion‐controlled rate. This dependence and the suspected relationship between singlet E(S) and triplet E(T) energies, respectively, are discussed.