Molecular design approach to a stable heterometallic zirconium–titanium alkoxide – potential precursor of mixed-oxide ceramics

New heterometallic interesting trinuclear, Zr{η3, μ2-NH(C2H4O)2}3[Ti(OiPr)3]2 encountering a nona-coordinated central zirconium atom crystallizes at −30 °C from a solution of zirconium and titanium isopropoxides and diethanolamine (Zr:Ti:L=1:2:3) in hydrocarbons. Due to its solution stability, this structurally characterized compound is an attractive potential precursor in sol–gel technique for the preparation of mixed metal oxide materials.