This invention relates to organometallic compounds represented by the formula (L1)xM(L2)y wherein M is a metal or metalloid, L1 and L2 are different and are each a hydrocarbon group or a heteroatom-containing group; x is a value of at least 1; y is a value of at least 1; x+y is equal to the oxidation state of M; and wherein (i) L1 has a steric bulk sufficiently large such that, due to steric hinderance, x cannot be a value equal to the oxidation state of M, (ii) L2 has a steric bulk sufficiently small such that, due to lack of steric hinderance, y can be a value equal to the oxidation state of M only in the event that x is not a value of at least 1, and (iii) L1 and L2 have a steric bulk sufficient to maintain a heteroleptic structure in which x+y is equal to the oxidation state of M; a process for producing the organometallic compounds, and a method for producing a film or coating from organometallic precursor compounds.