The invention relates to a method for the production of high-purity, heteroleptic, orth-etallated, organometallic compounds of application as a functional material for colouring components in a wide range of applications within the widest sense of the electronics industry. A method is thus used for the cleavage of a bridged metal dimer with organometallic substances. Dihalo complexes, which may be used as monomers for polymerisations, in particular, may be produced thus.