Induction of photoluminescence and columnar mesomorphism in hemi-disc salphen type Schiff bases via nickel(II) coordination

► Novel blue emissive Ni(II)-salphen complexes have been synthesized. ► Ligands are non-mesogenic and non-emissive. ► Complexes exhibited rectangular columnar mesomorphism. ► A distorted square planar structure for the nickel(II) complexes have been proposed.