Structure of Free Polyatomic Molecules

The frequent use of weIl known critical data handbooks like Beilstein, Gmelin and Landolt-Bömstein is impeded by the fact that only larger libraries - often far away from scientist's working places - can afford such costly collections. To satisfy the urgent need of many scientists working in the field of molecular science to have at their working place a comprehensive, high quality, but inexpensive collection of at least the basic data of their field of interest, this volume summarizes the most important structures of free polyatomic molecules. All data have been selected from those listed in the data tables presented on more than 1600 pages in various volumes of the New Series of Landolt-Bömstein, 11/7, 11/15, 11/21 and 11/23. We hope to meet with this volume the needs of researchers and students in the wider fields of molecular science and materials engineering, forming a bridge between the laboratory and the sources of additional information in the libraries. My sincere thanksare due to the Editor in Chief, Professor W. Martienssen, for his thoughtful guidance and to all authors of the present volume for their friendly cooperation; to Dr. B. Mez-Starck and Sektion für Spektren- und Strukturdokumentation, Universität Ulm, for their valuable assicstance and support; and to Springer-Verlag, especially Dr. R. Poerschke, for continual support and care. I greatly appreciate the expert help of Professor K. Hata and M. Nakahara in improving the nomenclature and of Drs. J.H. Callomon and D.A Ramsay with checking the English text.