FEMTOSECOND DYNAMICS OF EXCITED-STATE EVOLUTION IN [RU(BPY)(3)](2+)

Time-resolved absorption spectroscopy on the femtosecond time scale ha s been used to monitor the earliest events associated with excited-sta te relaxation in tris-(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II). The data reveal dynamics associated with the temporal evolution of the Franck-Condon s tate to the lowest energy excited state of this molecule. The process is essentially complete in similar to 300 femtoseconds after the initi al excitation. This result is discussed with regard to reformulating l ong-held notions about excited-state relaxation, as well as its implic ation for the importance of non-equilibrium excited-state processes in understanding and designing molecular-based electron transfer, artifi cial photosynthetic, and photovoltaic assemblies in which compounds of this class are currently playing a key role.