An improved synthesis of thiohydroxamic acids is described. The reaction of carboxymethyl dithiophenylacetate with several substituted hydroxylamines in aqueous solution at neutral pH gives good yields of the resultant thiohydroxamic acids. The lead coordination chemistry of these compounds is being investigated as part of a program to develop lead-specific sequestering agents. The single crystal structure of bis(N-cyclohexyl-phenylacetothiohydroxamato) lead(II) shows that it is essentially trigonal bipyramidal, with the leadlone electron pair dominating the coordination geometry. The complex has crystallographic twofold symmetry and the sulfur atoms occupy equatorial positions, with a Pb-S distance of 2.746 Angstrom and Pb-O distance of 2.383 Angstrom. The space group is P2(1)2(1)2 with a = 14.146, b = 18.003, c = 5.373 Angstrom, Z = 4. The structure of bis(N-methyl-3-pyridothiohydroxamato) lead(II) shows a similar geometry but a different isomer. The approximate trigonal bipyramidal geometry has the equatorial coordination positions occupied by one oxygen and a sulfur. The Pb-S distances are 2.725 (equatorial) and 2.809 (axial) Angstrom. The corresponding Pb-O distances are 2.497 and 2.349 Angstrom. The space group is P2(1)2(1)2(1) with a = 7.512, b = 12.686, c = 21.583 Angstrom, Z = 4. For comparison the crystal structure of the free ligand N-methyl-3-pyridothiohydroxamic acid has been determined. It is found in the E configuration (whereas the Z configuration is required for metal chelation). This represents the first such isomeric form for a thiohydroxamic acid, although both forms have been seen in hydroxamic acid crystal structures. The space group is Pc, with a = 4.098, b = 8.999, c = 11.184 Angstrom, beta = 100.48 degrees, Z = 2. The (207)pb NMR of a series of these complexes presents a convenient way to monitor the electronic environment of the lead nucleus; the resonances of these compounds occur in the range 1555-1493 ppm relative to PbMe(4).