This project is based upon synthesis and characterization of new oxohalides of iron, nickel and cadmium, which include chalcogen ions that have a stereochemically active lone pair. The new systems (M-Q-O-X where M = Ni, Fe, Cd  Q = Te, Se  X = Cl, Br)would be studied and characterized using single crystal x-ray diffraction, powder x-ray diffraction, Thermal gravimetric analysis, Scanning electron microscopy / energy dispersive x-ray, Mass spectrometry, vibrating sample magnetometer and bond valence sum calculations. The halides and chalcogen lone-pairs will typically act as chemical scissors to decrease the dimensionality of structures. All such compounds have sheets of transition metal cations arranged into layers, where the layers most often are connected through weak forces.