Synthesis, XRD and DFT studies on Pb[ChCN]₂ (Ch = O, S, Se) and Pb[SeCN][OH]

We report on the synthesis of Pb[ChCN]₂ (Ch = O, S, Se) and Pb[SeCN][OH] and their hitherto unknown crystal structures. All products were fully characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. Bulk analysis was performed by Rietveld refinement, elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry-thermogravimetric analysis (DSC-TGA), and solid-state Raman spectroscopy. Quantum-mechanical calculations based on the density functional theory allowed optimization of the structural parameters of these lead-based compounds, as well as assessment of their electronic structures and detailed assignment and interpretation of the vibrational spectra. In addition, the origin of bands related to difficulties in assigning the exact position of H atoms in the structures was resolved.