Ruthenium poly-pyridyl compounds, RuLH, RuLCOOH and RuLOMe have been synthesized and their photophysical properties have been studied. It was shown that the sub stitution of one bipyridine ligand of a ruthenium tris-bipyridine with a stilben oid-bipyridine ligand does not affect the HOMO energy levels of the ruthenium ce nter. However, this modification results in lowering the LUMO energy levels by 0 .2 eV which in turn leads to a red-shift in the absorption spectrum. Also, we r eport the synthesis and characterization of a novel ruthenium-based dye, TG6. Th is complex shows good absorption properties in comparison to the one of the most efficient sensitizer (N3 dye), which may allow us to present this dye as a prom ising sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cell systems.