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I wonder why the idiom "not only .... but" is incorrect?

I saw another example in which the idiom "not only .... but" is correct.



By pressing a tiny amount of nitrogen between two diamonds to a pressure of 25 million pounds per square inch, scientists not only were able to transform the gas into a solid, but they also created a semiconductor similar to silicon.

(A) not only were able to transform the gas into a solid, but they also created
(B) not only were able to transform the gas into a solid but also creating
(C) were able not only to transform the gas into a solid but to create
(D) were able not only to transform the gas into a solid but also creating
(E) were not only able to transform the gas into a solid, but they were also able to create

The correct answer is C.


Expert please explain.

Thank you
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Please help why the Idiom, not only-but is incorrect. It is used in GMAT.
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