Clipping a network into a crystal

The preparation of organometallic oxides, imides and nitrides is described. The molecular structures of these compounds resemble those found in binary systems. However, due to the organic envelope of the molecular solids, they are soluble in organic solvents, easy to crystallize and unambiguously characterizable by single X-ray structural analysis and NMR investigations. Moreover, inorganic oxides can be incorporated in organometallic phosphonates or organoalumoxanes. Herein we describe the organometallic phosphonates as hosts with a hydrophobic exterior.