Mesogenic complexes were synthesized by the reaction of beta -aminovinyl ketones with copper(II) acetate. On going from the ligands to complexes, the temperature of phase transitions increases and the nematic phase disappears. The initial members of the homological 1-(4-nonyloxyphenyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenylamino)-1-propen-1-one series demonstrate the alternation of clearing temperatures, which is absent for the corresponding copper(II) complexes.