Single phase cubic spinel compounds LixMn1-xFe2-2xO4 (x = 0, 1) were obtained by thermal decomposition of freeze-dried formate solutions of appropriate composition. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and Rietveld refinement, XANES, Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopy and magnetization measurements. The combination of these methods provides useful conclusions concerning the structure, cation distribution and properties of the spinel solid solutions. The LixMn1+xFe2-2xO4 samples contain Mn(II) and Mn(III) or Mn(III) and Mn(IV) for x < 0.5 or x > 0.5, respectively. With the increase of x the portion of Li ions occupying tetrahedral sites increases and becomes 100% at about x = 4/7. In spite of the preferred occupation of octahedral sites by manganese(HI), the experimental results can only be explained by a partial occupation also of tetrahedral sites by Mn(III). An increase of M-s with the increase of x (expected for a preferred substitution of magnetic ions in tetrahedral sites by non-magnetic Li ions) is not observed. It should be prevented by the decreasing cooperative coupling effects due to the reduction of the iron content. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.