Chemistry of double alkoxides of various elements

Earlier literature on the synthesis of double alkoxy derivatives of a number of metals has been reviewed. It has been shown that the formation and stability of these derivatives cannot be explained simply on the assumption that they are neutralisation products of acidic and basic alkoxides. The synthesis and properties of a number of apparently covalent alkoxides of alkali metals with metals like aluminium, titanium, zirconium, thorium, tin, niobium, and tantalum is reviewed followed by some interesting recent work on volatile double alkoxides of aluminium and gallium with those of lanthanons and zirconium. Finally, the present state of structural studies on these double alkoxides has been reviewed including some information about relevant simple alkoxy derivatives also.