The preparation, properties, and recent structural elucidations of hom
o- and hetero-metallic alkoxides as well as oxo-alkoxides of Group 1,
2, and 12 metals are critically reviewed. The applicability of new sol
uble alkoxy derivatives in the preparation of ultrahomogeneous materia
ls by the sol-gel process is discussed. The potential future areas of
developments are exemplified by uniquely stable heterotrimetallic coor
dination systems, opening up possibilities for the molecular design of
single source precursors.