topics include: molecular routes to ceramic materials: new chemistry for the sol-gel process: acetone as a new condensation reagent; heterometallic aggregates as intermediates on the molecular routes to multicomponent oxides; further studies on aluminum oxoalkoxide clusters; studies on the formation of tin(iv) alkoxide compounds by sol-gel-process; hydrolysis-condensation of alkyltin-trialkoxides; hydrolysis and condensation of modified tin(iv) alkoxide compounds to form controlled porosity materials; polynuclear titanium oxoalkoxides: molecular building blocks for new materials. raman and surface enhanced raman spectroscopy of titanium carboxylates; hydrolysis of zirconium propoxide by an esterification reaction; molecular design of carboxylic precursors for zirconia; properties of zro2 gels prepared by controlled chemical modification method of alkoxide; single-component routes to perovskite phase mixed metal oxides; and synthesis of barium titanate by a basic ph pechini process