Metallomesogens by ligand design

In this Perspective, some of the basic principles of ligand design will be described as they apply to the synthesis of metal complexes with liquid crystal properties. Liquid crystal properties of metal complexes are a delicate function of both ligand and metal and examples will be chosen to illustrate this statement. In particular, the effect of the metal complex moiety on the mesomorphism of a series of imine and diimine liquid crystals is described.