15min:

HAIYANG LI, TONY C. SMITH, DENNIS J. CLOUTHIER, Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0055; CHRISTOPHER T. KINGSTON AND ANTHONY J. MERER, Chemistry Department, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z1.

The à ^{2 +} - X ² _i LIF spectrum of the previously unknown germanium methylidyne radical has been observed by fragmentation of tetramethylgermane in a pulsed discharge jet. Extensive series of bands of both GeCH and GeCD were observed in the near-infrared. The strongest band of GeCH at 14,700 cm^-1 has been recorded at high resolution and rotationally analyzed to provide ground and excited state rotational constants. The vibrational frequencies, spin-orbit splitting and bonding will be discussed.