Excitation energy transfer (EET) in dendritic host-guest complexes has been studied. Three generations G2, G3 and G4 of dansyl substituted poly(propylencamine) dendrimers (POPAM) were complexed with a fluorescent dye eosin in chloroform solution. Arrival of excitation from dansyls to eosin was monitored by fermosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. EET rates from the dansyls to eosin(s) are characterised by two time constants 1 ps and 6 ps independent of dendrimer generation. Relaxation processes in eosin were clearly faster when complexed with dendrimer than in solution. As several eosins are bound to G3 and G4 dendrimers, besides host-guest interaction, also eosin-eosin interactions may contribute to the faster relaxation observed in these complexes. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.