Method for preparing compounds of the formula in which n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, preferably 1 or 2, particularly preferably 1 the residues R 1 are each independently a halogen atom, preferably chlorine or bromine, more preferably chlorine, which is bonded to the aromatic ring the residues R 2 are each independently C 1 -C 8 -alkyl, C 6 -C 12 -aryl or C 7 -C 13 -arylalkyl or both residues R 2 together are a straight-chain or branched C 3 -C 12 -alkylene residue, which may optionally be interspersed by one or more oxygen atoms by reacting compounds of the formula with compounds of the formula HN(R 2) 2 where the residues R 1, R 2 and R 3 in the formulae and have the meanings stated under the formula and X is chlorine, bromine, iodine, -OSO 2 -(C 1 -C 6 -alkyl) or -OSO 2 -(C 1 -C 6 -perfluoroalkyl), preferably chlorine or bromine, especially preferably chlorine wherein the method is characterized in that • the molar ratio of compounds of the formula to compounds of the formula is 3:1 or greater, preferably 3:1 to 50:1, particularly preferably 3:1 to 20:1 and especially preferably 5:1 to 20:1 and also in another embodiment 5:1 or greater, preferably 5:1 to 50:1, particularly preferably 5:1 to 20:1 and especially preferably 8:1 to 14:1 • organic solvent is used in an amount of 10% by weight or less, preferably 5% by weight or less, particularly preferably 0 to 2% by weight, based on the sum of compounds of the formulae and used and especially preferably no organic solvent is used and • water is used, preferably more than 10% by weight, particularly preferably more than 30% by weight, especially preferably more than 50% by weight and particularly preferably more than 100% by weight of water, especially preferably 100 to 1000% by weight, based on the compound of the formula used, • at a reaction temperature of 90 - 180°C. n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, preferably 1 or 2, particularly preferably 1 the residues R 1 are each independently a halogen atom, preferably chlorine or bromine, more preferably chlorine, which is bonded to the aromatic ring the residues R 2 are each independently C 1 -C 8 -alkyl, C 6 -C 12 -aryl or C 7 -C 13 -arylalkyl or both residues R 2 together are a straight-chain or branched C 3 -C 12 -alkylene residue, which may optionally be interspersed by one or more oxygen atoms X is chlorine, bromine, iodine, -OSO 2 -(C 1 -C 6 -alkyl) or -OSO 2 -(C 1 -C 6 -perfluoroalkyl), preferably chlorine or bromine, especially preferably chlorine • the molar ratio of compounds of the formula to compounds of the formula is 3:1 or greater, preferably 3:1 to 50:1, particularly preferably 3:1 to 20:1 and especially preferably 5:1 to 20:1 and also in another embodiment 5:1 or greater, preferably 5:1 to 50:1, particularly preferably 5:1 to 20:1 and especially preferably 8:1 to 14:1 • organic solvent is used in an amount of 10% by weight or less, preferably 5% by weight or less, particularly preferably 0 to 2% by weight, based on the sum of compounds of the formulae and used and especially preferably no organic solvent is used and • water is used, preferably more than 10% by weight, particularly preferably more than 30% by weight, especially preferably more than 50% by weight and particularly preferably more than 100% by weight of water, especially preferably 100 to 1000% by weight, based on the compound of the formula used, • at a reaction temperature of 90 - 180°C.