Thermal decomposition of the trinuclear heterometallic oxoacetates [Fe2M(mu(3)-O)(CH3COO)(6)(H2O)(3)] has been used as a single-precursor method for synthesis of the spinel-structured ternary oxides MFe2O4 (M = Mn-II, Co-II, and Ni-II). This facile process occurring at 320 degrees C results in the formation of nanocrystalline (7-20 nm) highly pure stoichiometric ferrites in quantitative yield. The magnetic properties of these nanoparticulate ferrites were studied in the 10-300 K temperature range, revealing superparamagnetic behavior for the Ni and Mn particles and ferrimagnetic behavior for the Co ones at room temperature. Their blocking temperatures follow the order: CoFe2O4 > MnFe2O4> NiFe2O4. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.