The photochemistry of bis(8-quinolinolato)Cu(II), Cu(ox)2, and bis(8-quinolinethiolato)- Cu(II), Cu(tox)2, has been studied by continuous photolysis in aprotic solvents. The charge transfer irradiations induce the oxidation of the ligand and the reduction of copper(II) to copper(I). These assignments are supported by EPR data and UV-Vis spectra of the complexes. The photochemical properties of copper(II) complexes are discussed in terms of the population of charge transfer to copper-excited states. Both complexes show solvent-dependent photochemistry when irradiated in CHCl3 and in toluene. The photoproducts of Cu(tox)2 in CHCl3 are partially reconverted into the initial complex by thermal reaction, while photoreactions of Cu(ox)2 lead to secondary photolytic processes.