Single vibronic level emission spectroscopic studies of the ground state energy levels and molecular structures of jet-cooled HGeBr, DGeBr, HGeI, and DGeI.

Single vibronic level dispersed fluorescence spectra of jet-cooled HGeBr, DGeBr, HGeI, and DGeI have been obtained by laser excitation of selected bands of the A (1)A(")-X (1)A(') electronic transition. The measured ground state vibrational intervals were assigned and fitted to anharmonicity expressions, which allowed the harmonic frequencies to be determined for both isotopomers. In some cases, lack of a suitable range of emission data necessitated that some of the anharmonicity constants and vibrational frequencies be estimated from those of HGeClDGeCl and the corresponding silylenes (HSiX). Harmonic force fields were obtained for both molecules, although only four of the six force constants could be determined. The ground state effective rotational constants and force field data were combined to calculate average (r(z)) and approximate equilibrium (r(e) (z)) structures. For HGeBr r(e) (z)(GeH)=1.593(9) A, r(e) (z)(GeBr)=2.325(21) A, and the bond angle was fixed at our CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ ab initio value of 93.6 degrees . For HGeI we obtained r(e) (z)(GeH)=1.589(1) A, r(e) (z)(GeI)=2.525(5) A, and bond angle=93.2 degrees . Franck-Condon simulations of the emission spectra using ab initio Cartesian displacement coordinates reproduce the observed intensity distributions satisfactorily. The trends in structural parameters in the halogermylenes and halosilylenes can be readily understood based on the electronegativity of the halogen substituent.

The ground state energy levels and molecular structure of jet-cooled HGeCl and DGeCl from single vibronic level emission spectroscopy.

Single vibronic level dispersed fluorescence spectra of jet-cooled HGeCl and DGeCl have been recorded by laser excitation of selected bands of the A 1A"-X 1A' electronic transition. Twenty-six ground state vibrational levels of HGeCl and 42 of DGeCl were measured, assigned, and fitted to standard anharmonicity expressions, which allowed all the harmonic frequencies to be determined for both isotopomers. A normal coordinate least squares analysis obtained by fitting the harmonic frequencies yielded reliable values for five of the six force constants. The ground state effective rotational constants and force field data were combined to calculate average (rz) and approximate equilibrium (re z) structures, with re z(GeH)=1.586(1) A, re z(GeCl)=2.171(2) A, and the bond angle fixed at our CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ ab initio value of 93.9 degrees . Comparisons show that the derived bond lengths are consistent with those of the appropriate diatomic molecules in their ground electronic states and the bond angle is similar to that of germylene (GeH2). A Franck-Condon simulation of the vibrational intensities in the 0(0) (0) band emission spectrum of HGeCl using ab initio force field data shows good agreement with experiment, lending credence to the vibrational analysis of the observed spectra.

Formation of an Effective Opening within the Fullerene Core of C(60) by an Unusual Reaction Sequence.

A large hole in a fullerene: The addition of dioxygen to the highly reactive 1,4-diaminobutadiene moiety of 1, formed from the reaction of C(60) with a rigid diazidobutadiene, results in the very efficient formation of an open fullerene (see the space-filling model) with the largest orifice created so far on a fullerene. The opening may be large enough to allow the smallest atoms, molecules, or ions to pass through.

Energy storage in the primary photochemical events of rhodopsin and isorhodopsin.

The energetics associated with the photoequilibrium (Formula: see text) are measured at 77 K by using pulsed-laser photocalorimetry and a range of excitation wavelengths and relative starting concentrations. Enthalpies for the photochemical transformations R hv----B and I hv----B are measured to be delta HRB = 32.2 +/- 0.9 kcal mol-1 and delta HIB = 27.1 +/- 3.2 kcal mol-1, respectively. Although the value of delta HRB is slightly lower than that reported previously by Cooper of 34.7 +/- 2.2 kcal mol-1 [Cooper, A. (1979) Nature (London) 282, 531-533], the two values are in agreement within experimental error. The energy difference delta HRB - delta HIB = 5.1 +/- 3.3 kcal mol-1 is identical within experimental error with the difference in enthalpies of isorhodopsin and rhodopsin [5.2 +/- 2.3; Cooper, A. (1979) FEBS Lett. 100, 382-384]. We suggest that this result is consistent with the theory that bathorhodopsin is a single, common photochemical intermediate connecting rhodopsin and isorhodopsin.

Trichinosis in southern Lebanon.

An outbreak of trichinosis in two villages in southern Lebanon affected over 100 patients, aged 3 to 70 years, who celebrated Christmas and New Year's of 1981 by feasting on rare pork. Six were hospitalized in Israel. The diagnosis was made on clinical and histological grounds. The clinical picture included the classical features, but was unusual in that rarely reported pedal or pretibial edema, pruritus and vertigo, were prominent. There was one case with suspected myocarditis. Two women in the first trimester of pregnancy had miscarriages. All patients recovered. With the unstable political situation in Lebanon in recent years, veterinary and sanitary supervision has deteriorated, and most pigpens are infected with trichinosis.