Metallomesogens with extended bent tridentate receptors: columnar and cubic mesomorphism tuned by the size of the lanthanide metal ionsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: experimental procedures and characterization (elemental analyses, NMR, ESI-MS, conductivity) for L3, L3-C4 and L4 and for the complexes [Zn(L1)(NO3)2]·DMF (1), [Zn(Li)(NO3)2]·3H2O (i = 2: 2; i = 4: 3), [Zn(L3)(NO3)2]·H2O (4) and [Ln(L3)(NO3)3] (Ln = Eu, 5; Ln = Dy, 6; Ln = Lu, 7). Tables collecting selected bond distances and bite angles for 1 and L3-C4 and scattering vectors for 5–7. Figures showing intermolecular interactions in 1 and L3-C4, DSC traces for 2, 4 and 6 , birefringent textures for L3 and 7 and a CPK modeling for 7. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/dt/b2/b211902a/