Series of binuclear copper and nickel complexes having two tetradental enaminoketone centres have been synthesized and examined. The rectangular shape of the mesogenic core allows the formation of lamellar (SmA) or columnar (Colh, Colr) phases depending on the number of attached aliphatic chains. In some complexes the columnar phases have molecules tilted in columns. An unexpected phase sequence Colr upper–Colh–Colr lower ...
