Lead and zinc soaps are commonly seen as signs of oil paint degradation. The pathway from pigment to metal soaps and their subsequent migration and accumulation are poorly understood, and it is unknown to what extent these processes are influenced by humidity and temperature. In order to understand fully the behavior of metal soaps in paint systems, it is first necessary to characterize the molecular structure of metal soaps in detail. This paper presents the synthesis and structural characterization of three new types of metal soaps: "basic" lead soaps, zinc soaps that incorporate sodium or potassium ions, and metal soaps containing both palmitate and stearate. The results are a first step toward more accurate interpretations in paint sample analysis and a more detailed understanding of oil paint degradation on a molecular scale
