Criteria for liquid crystal formation in 5-alkoxy-, 5-alkylamino-, and 5-alkanoyl-tropolone complexes of transition metals (Cu(II), Zn(II), Ni(II), Co(II), UO(2)(VI), VO(IV)). The first uranium metallomesogen. Crystal structure of bis(5-hexadecyloxytropolonato)copper(II).