In this paper, we first give a brief review of the theoretical framework for microscopic shell-model calculations starting from the free nucleon–nucleon potential. In this context, we discuss the use of the low-momentum nucleon–nucleon interaction V low - k in the derivation of the shell-model effective interaction and emphasize its practical value as an alternative to the Brueckner G -matrix method. Then, we present some results of our current study of exotic nuclei around doubly magic 132Sn, which have been obtained starting from the CD-Bonn potential renormalized by use of the V low - k approach. Attention is focused on the nuclei 134Te, 134Sn, and 136Te, in particular on the latter which is a direct source of information on the proton–neutron effective interaction in the 132Sn region. Comparison shows that our results are in very good agreement with the available experimental data.