Calamitic or columnar mesomorphism determined by number and position of substituents in enaminoketone Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes

New enaminoketone metalomesogens with an almost equilateral triangular shape of the mesogenic core have been synthesized. They form either calamitic or columnar mesophases depending on the number and position of the substituted chains. The stability of the columnar as well as of the calamitic phases depends substantially on the central metallic ion.