A method for producing organometallic compounds RM n of the alkali elements, where n = valence of the metal M and R = alkyl residue with 2 to 18 C atoms, characterized in that an α-olefin is hydrometalated in an alkyl methyl ether or in an alkyl methyl ether-containing solvent mixture by means of the metal M and in the presence of a hydrogen source and in the presence of a transition metal catalyst, wherein the molar ratio between alkyl methyl ether and metal M is at least 0.01:1 and at most 50:1, wherein the alkyl methyl ether is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl ether, methyl ethyl ether, methyl propyl ether, methyl butyl ether, methyl pentyl ether, methyl cyclopentyl ether, methyl hexyl ether, particularly preferably dimethyl ether, wherein reactive metal hydride MH n * is produced in situ and in the presence of finely dispersed metal M 2 * with a mean particle size D 50 of 0.01 to 100 μm and a source for hydrogen, wherein M 2 = an element of the 3 rd main group of the PTE selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In; n = 1, corresponding to the valence of the metal M, and/or reactive metal hydride MH n * is produced in situ and in the presence of a compound having the general formula M 1 x [M 2 (A 1 y A 2 z) 3+z] b, wherein M 1 = an alkali metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs; an alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, or an element from the group of the rare earths selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu; x = 0 or 1; M 2 = an element of the 3 rd main group of the PTE selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In; A 1 = H or an alkyl group, branched or unbranched, containing 1-18 C atoms, wherein the up to four A groups can be identical or different; A 2 = an alkoxy residue OR where R = alkyl with 1-8 C atoms, dialkylamino residue -NR 2 where R = alkyl with 1-8 C atoms or a halogen from Cl, Br, I; y can assume the value 1, 2 or 3, and wherein y + z = 3; b = the valence of M 1; n = 1 or 2, corresponding to the valence of the metal M. reactive metal hydride MH n * is produced in situ and in the presence of finely dispersed metal M 2 * with a mean particle size D 50 of 0.01 to 100 μm and a source for hydrogen, wherein M 2 = an element of the 3 rd main group of the PTE selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In; n = 1, corresponding to the valence of the metal M, and/or wherein M 2 = an element of the 3 rd main group of the PTE selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In; n = 1, corresponding to the valence of the metal M, and/or reactive metal hydride MH n * is produced in situ and in the presence of a compound having the general formula M 1 x [M 2 (A 1 y A 2 z) 3+z] b, wherein M 1 = an alkali metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs; an alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, or an element from the group of the rare earths selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu; x = 0 or 1; M 2 = an element of the 3 rd main group of the PTE selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In; A 1 = H or an alkyl group, branched or unbranched, containing 1-18 C atoms, wherein the up to four A groups can be identical or different; A 2 = an alkoxy residue OR where R = alkyl with 1-8 C atoms, dialkylamino residue -NR 2 where R = alkyl with 1-8 C atoms or a halogen from Cl, Br, I; y can assume the value 1, 2 or 3, and wherein y + z = 3; b = the valence of M 1; n = 1 or 2, corresponding to the valence of the metal M. wherein M 1 = an alkali metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs; an alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, or an element from the group of the rare earths selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu; x = 0 or 1; M 2 = an element of the 3 rd main group of the PTE selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In; A 1 = H or an alkyl group, branched or unbranched, containing 1-18 C atoms, wherein the up to four A groups can be identical or different; A 2 = an alkoxy residue OR where R = alkyl with 1-8 C atoms, dialkylamino residue -NR 2 where R = alkyl with 1-8 C atoms or a halogen from Cl, Br, I; y can assume the value 1, 2 or 3, and wherein y + z = 3; b = the valence of M 1; n = 1 or 2, corresponding to the valence of the metal M.