The process preferably includes reacting a metal, such as barium, strontium, or titanium, with an alcohol (e.g., 2-methoxyethanol) to form a metal alkoxide, and reacting the metal alkoxide with a carboxylic acid (e.g., 2-ethylhexanoic acid) to form a metal alkoxycarboxylate or metal alkoxide having a --O--M--O--M--O-- group according to one of the generalized formulas