A process of forming a refined metal-containing unit comprising: a. providing a metal-containing unit where MU is represented by Structure I: MA w B x C y Structure I where M comprises a metal with a formal valency of 0-7 and is selected from Zr, Hf, Ge, Ti, Nb, Pb, Gd, Sn, Ce, Eu, In, Nd, Sb, Ga, Se, Cd, Ta, Co, Pt, Au, W, V, Tl, Te, Sr, Sm, La, Er, Pd, Ba, As and Y; Ligand A contains a reactive functional group capable of undergoing a combining reaction; w is 0 to 7; Ligands B and C are selected individually or in combination from oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, or a halogen atom; hydroxyl, peroxo, phosphate, borate, tungstate, sulfate, silicate; substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic alkyl, alkyl ether, alkyl ester, thioalkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group; substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; and -XR 1 where X represents an organic functional group such as oxy, thio, carboxy, thiocarboxy, sulfo, oxalate, acetoacetonate, carbanion, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, cyano, nitro, nitrito, nitrate, nitrosyl, azide, cyanato, isocyanato, thiocyanato, isothiocyanato, amido, amine, diamine, arsine, diarsine, phosphine, and diphosphine, and R 1 represents a hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic alkyl or thioalkyl group, a heterocyclic group, an alicyclic group, and a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl group; x and y are 0 to 7, and w+x+y is 2-7; and dissolving the MU in an organic solvent, the MU being present in the range of 5 weight percent to 70 weight percent based on the total weight of the MU and the organic solvent, to form an MU solution, b. providing an acidified solution of deionized water at a pH below 6.5 by adding an acid to deionized water, the acid being represented by the structure R 2 -COOH, wherein R 2 is selected individually or in combination from substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group, alkyl ester, alkenyl ester, alkenyl ether or alkyl ether; substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, c. mixing the MU solution with the acidified solution of deionized water, and d. isolating the RMU. a. providing a metal-containing unit where MU is represented by Structure I: MA w B x C y Structure I where M comprises a metal with a formal valency of 0-7 and is selected from Zr, Hf, Ge, Ti, Nb, Pb, Gd, Sn, Ce, Eu, In, Nd, Sb, Ga, Se, Cd, Ta, Co, Pt, Au, W, V, Tl, Te, Sr, Sm, La, Er, Pd, Ba, As and Y; Ligand A contains a reactive functional group capable of undergoing a combining reaction; w is 0 to 7; Ligands B and C are selected individually or in combination from oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, or a halogen atom; hydroxyl, peroxo, phosphate, borate, tungstate, sulfate, silicate; substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic alkyl, alkyl ether, alkyl ester, thioalkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group; substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; and -XR 1 where X represents an organic functional group such as oxy, thio, carboxy, thiocarboxy, sulfo, oxalate, acetoacetonate, carbanion, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, cyano, nitro, nitrito, nitrate, nitrosyl, azide, cyanato, isocyanato, thiocyanato, isothiocyanato, amido, amine, diamine, arsine, diarsine, phosphine, and diphosphine, and R 1 represents a hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic alkyl or thioalkyl group, a heterocyclic group, an alicyclic group, and a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl group; x and y are 0 to 7, and w+x+y is 2-7; and dissolving the MU in an organic solvent, the MU being present in the range of 5 weight percent to 70 weight percent based on the total weight of the MU and the organic solvent, to form an MU solution, b. providing an acidified solution of deionized water at a pH below 6.5 by adding an acid to deionized water, the acid being represented by the structure R 2 -COOH, wherein R 2 is selected individually or in combination from substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group, alkyl ester, alkenyl ester, alkenyl ether or alkyl ether; substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, c. mixing the MU solution with the acidified solution of deionized water, and d. isolating the RMU.