Ultrafast photo-excitation dynamics of N-benzyl 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline was studied with femtosecond time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. The photo-induced absorption spectrum was found to consist of three transient components with different decay times. A 260 fs-decay time stimulated emission appeared during a geometrical relaxation from a charge-transfer excited state to a geometrically relaxed excited state. A following energy relaxation of the geometrically relaxed excited state was completed within 680 fs. Third 2.6 ps decay time reflected a cooling process of hot electrons in a ground state potential. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.