Fine powders of amorphous $Al_2O_3,;SiO_2,;Al_2O_3-SiO_2$ system were prepared by hydrolysis of solutions containing alkoxides, aluminium tri-isopropoxide and silicon tetra-ethoxide. High purity ultrafine ${eta}-sialon$ powders were prepared by the carbothermal reduction-nitridation of amorphous $Al_2O_3-SiO_2$ powders mixed with carbon black as a reducing agent. In the hydrolysis step the effect of the factors such as pH, reaction temperature and amount of water on the conversion rate of alkoxides to oxides was investigated. In the carbothermal reduction-nitridation the reaction path was assumed by the analysis of intermediates formed in the process of ${eta}-sialon$ synthesis and the reaction kinetics of ${eta}-sialon$ formation was considered.