Cytochrome c(3)-viologen-ruthenium(II) triad complex, Ru-V-cyt.c(3), was prepared and characterized by using spectroscopic techniques. Effective quenching of the photoexcited state of ruthenium complex moiety by the bound viologen was observed in Ru-V-cyt.c(3). When the system containing Ru-V-cyt.c(3) and hydrogenase was irradiated by visible light, photoinduced hydrogen evolution was observed, showing the effective two-step electron transfer from the photoexcited state of ruthenium complex moiety to cytochrome cs via bound viologen. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.