Three members of the lead (II) n-alkanoates (from etanoate to n-butanoate) have been synthesized, purified and studied by d.s.c., Xray diffraction, and FTIR spectroscopy. Lead (II) acetate, propanoate, and butanoate present only a melting transition at T= (452.6, 398.2, and 346.5) K, with Delta H-f = (16.0, 13.1, and 15,6) kJ . mol(-1), and Delta S-f = (35.3, 32.8, and 45.1) J . mol(-1) - K-1, respectively. These temperature data correct to a great extent the historical values reported in the literature. These three members readily quench into a glass state. Their corresponding T-g values are (314.4, 289.0, and 274.9) K, respectively, measured by d.s.c. at a heating rate of 5 K . min(-1). (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.