The salts (Ph(4)E)[M(SOCPh)(3)] (M = Zn, Cd, or Hg; E = P or As) are produced by the reaction of Zn(NO3)(2) . 6 H2O, Cd(NO3)(2) . 4H(2)O or HgCl2 with Et(3)NH(+)PhCOS(-) and (Ph(4)E)X (E = P, X = Br; E = As, X = Cl) in aqueous MeOH in the ratios M(II):PhCOS(-):Ph(4)E(+) = 1:greater than or equal to 3:greater than or equal to 1. The crystal structures of (Ph(4)P)[Zn(SOCPh)(3)] (1), (Ph(4)As)[Cd(SOCPh)(3)] (2) and (Ph(4)P)[Hg(SOCPh)(3)] (3) have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. Crystal data for 1 : triclinic; space group ; Z = 2; a = 10.819(2) Angstrom, b = 13.219(3) Angstrom, c = 15.951(3) Angstrom; alpha = 101.75(2)degrees, beta = 97.92(1)degrees, gamma = 109.18(2)degrees. Crystal data for 2 : triclinic; space group ; Z = 2; a = 10.741(2) Angstrom, b = 13.168(2) Angstrom, c = 15.809(2) Angstrom; alpha = 101.00(1)degrees, beta = 97.65(1)degrees, gamma = 109.88(1)degrees. Crystal data for 3 : monoclinic; space group P2(1)/n; Z = 4; a = 13.302(2) Angstrom, b = 14.276(2) Angstrom, c = 21.108(2) Angstrom; beta = 90.92(1)degrees. The compounds 1 and 2 are isomorphous and isostructural. In the anions [M(SOCPh)(3)](-) the metal atoms have trigonal planar coordination by three sulfur atoms. The metal atoms are further more weakly coordinated intramolecularly to one (M = Hg) or two (M = Zn, Cd) thiobenzoate oxygen atom(s). Using the Bond Valence approach it is found that the contribution of M ... O bonding to the total bonding is in the order Cd > Zn > Hg. The metal (Cd-113, Hg-199) NMR signals of [M(SOCPh)(3)](-) (M = Cd, Hg) are more shielded than those found for MS(3) kernels in thiolate complexes, a difference attributed to the M ... O bonding in the thiobenzoate complexes. The Cd-113 resonance of [Cd(SOCPh)(3)](-) in dilute solution is in the region anticipated from dilution data for [Na(Cd{SOCPh}(3))(2)](-).