We identified &ggr; transitions in several neutron‐rich nuclei near132Sn produced in the spontaneous fission of252Cf. These are of interest because they can test shell model calculations. These nuclei are139Ba,133,135Te, and121,123Cd. Excited states in neutron‐rich133Te exhibit four types of particle‐hole bands built on the known 334.3 keV isomer in133Te. The yrast and near yrast particle‐hole states observed up to 6.2 MeV in133Te have characteristics quite similar to those in134Te. The band starting at 5.214 MeV is assigned as a neutron particle‐hole excitation of the double magic core nucleus,132Sn and is a candidate for a tilted rotor band. Theoretical shell model calculations show good agreement with the experimental states up to 4.3 MeV. The new level scheme of139Ba includes 11 new transitions and 10 new levels and is compared with the 83‐neutron isotone135Te. In135Te, a tilted rotor band, also, is proposed. Excited states built on the 11/2−isomeric states in neutron‐rich121,123Cd are identified. The new data indicate that the 11/2−isomers in odd‐A Cd isotopes with N>74 have spherical shapes similar to those in Te while the Cd ground states are likely deformed. © 2002 American Institute of Physics