The invention relates to a novel family of oligomeric and polymeric s-triazine and s-heptazine derivatives and to their use as an intermediate, e.g. as precursors for producing Si/(M)/C/N/(O) ceramics, as mesoporous materials such as, e.g., catalyst carriers for storing gas or as a stationary phase for chromatography, as flameproofing agents, plastic additives or for other organic/inorganic functional materials.