Microwave studies of phosphines, selenols, arsines and germanes, as well as molecules of interstellar and prebiotic interest

We intend to study a series of phosphines, selenols and germanes and possibly also stannanes as well as molecules of interstellar and prebiotic interest that have been synthesized by Prof. J.-C. Guillemin and co-workers in Rennes, France. These compounds belong to functional groups that have been very little studied and practically nothing is known about their physical properties. The few studies that have been made have already revealed that these compounds have unique properties different from related c ompounds with different functional groups (e.g. phosphines and amines, selenols and alcohols, etc.). Guillemin has also synthesized several compounds of prebiotic interest that we would like to investigate. These compounds may be present in interstellar s pace and are of interest to radio astronomy and space research.