Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a metalorganic compound, comprising at least one imine ligand, characterized in that an imine ligand according to formula 1, or the HA adduct thereof, wherein HA represents an acid, of which H represents its proton and A its conjugate base, is contacted with a metal-organic reagent of formula 2 in the presence of at least 1, respectively 2 equivalents of an inorganic or metal-organic base, wherein Y?N—R (formula 1), Y is selected from a substituted carbon, nitrogen or phosphorous atom, R represents a proton, a protic or an aprotic substituent, and the metal organic compound is: Mv(L1)k(L2)I(L3)m(L4)nX (formula 2) wherein: M represents a group 4 or group 5 metal ion, V represents the valency of the metal ion, being 3, 4 or 5, L1, L2, L3, and L4 represent ligands on M and may be equal or different, X represents a group 17 halogen atom, and k, l, m, n=0, 1, 2, 3, 4 with k+l+m+n+1=V.