The synthesis of mesomorphic Cu(II) and Ni(II) coordination compounds arising from a new series of tetradentate Schiff bases containing two salicylaldimine fragments connected by a very long spacer,-(CH2)12-, (H2Ln): L1 = p-(C6H13O)-C6H4COO, L2 = p-(C12H25O)-C6H4COO, is described. The self-assembly and liquid-crystalline properties of these complexes have been investigated by variable temperature powder