The present invention is a process for producing nanosized metal compounds. The preferred product is nanosized copper, nanosized copper (I) oxide, and nanosized copper (II) oxide. The process includes heating a copper metal precursor in a hydrocarbon preferably selected from alkylated benzenes, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, paraffins and/or naphthenic hydrocarbons. The heating is desirably at a temperature and time effective to convert, for example, the copper metal precursor to nanosized copper (II) oxide, nanosized copper (I) oxide and/or nanosized copper metal. Separation of the hydrocarbon is then performed. Recovering the solid product and recycle/reuse of the recovered hydrocarbon in subsequent preparations of nanosized metal and metal oxides may be performed. The nanosized metal oxides of the invention may additionally be converted to nanosized metal salts by reaction with the appropriate acids while dispersed in the hydrocarbons.