Reactive powders of stoichiometry Nd2Ti3O8.7 have been prepared by the EDTA-gel method, co-precipitation method and mixed-oxide method. The corresponded phases after thermal decomposition and sintering were investigated by XRD diffraction. Single phase of Nd2Ti3O8.7 could not be easily obtained by even very homogenous chemical solution methods. However, the substitution of Nd by Ca produces oxygen vacancies can readily promote the formation of Nd2Ti3O8.7 phase. The present study demonstrated that the factor facilitating the formation of Nd2Ti3O8.7 is not the homogeneity of compositions but the existence of oxygen vacancies in the system.