New correlated columnar liq. crystals which are based upon square-planar 1,3-diketonate Schiff-base complexes of Pd, Ni, and Cu were developed. These compds. exhibit a no. of desirable liq.-cryst. properties such as ease of alignment, low m.ps., and low viscosity. The complexes are correlated into a discotic antiphase structure in which the complexes are oriented antiparallel. This structure facilitates very close intermesogen contacts of 3.6 AA since the antiphase structure directs the sterically bulky side chains away from those of the nearest neighbors. Vanadyl complexes are not liq. crystals. [on SciFinder(R)]
