Interstitial molybdenum ternary nitrides, MnMo3N (M = Fe and Co, n = 3; M = Ni, n = 2), can be obtained by heating the molybdate precursors, FeMoO4, CoMoO4 and NiMoO4 with urea in the 1:12 molar ratio in the 900-1000 degrees C range. Fe3Mo3N and Co3Mo3N are obtained in pure form. The nickel nitride has the composition Ni2Mo3N and therefore is in admixture with nickel. All the nitrides have been characterized by various physical methods. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.