The electronic excitation spectrum of 2-methyl furan has been recorded in the 2.8-7.1 eV region using high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) at 30 eV impact energy and 10 degrees and 30 degrees scattering angles. Two bands centred at 3.85 and 5.1 eV have been observed and assigned to transitions to the B-3(2) and (3)A(1) states, respectively. Both bands having a structureless shape, the corresponding electronic states might be correlated to a radical dissociation channel. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.