A process is disclosed for preparing an organically modified layered double hydroxide having a distance between the individual layers of the layered double hydroxide of about 1.5 nm and comprising an organic anion as charge-balancing anion, the process comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a precursor suspension comprising a divalent metal ion source and a trivalent metal ion source; (b) solvothermally treating the precursor suspension to obtain a double layered hydroxide, wherein an organic anion is added before or during the formation of the layered double hydroxide of step (b), or following the formation of the layered double hydroxide, so as to obtain the organically modified layered double hydroxide, with the proviso that deoxycholic acid is not the sole organic anion.