Discotic β-diketonate liquid crystals containing palladium(II), and oxovanadium(IV), (V≡0), analogous to known copper complexes (which display discotic lamellar and columnar mesophases), have been prepared and characterized. These are the first enantiotropic discotics containing Pd(II) and among the earliest examples containing VO(IV). The best-behaved Pd(II) complex is [Pd(DK 10, 10)2], and it also is probable that the complexes [Pd(DKn,n)2] (n= 7–9) are mesomorphic, however their characterization is difficult due to decomposition in the isotropic phase. The mesophase of [Pd(DK 102,102)2], which appears below 100°C, is suggested to be an example of the rare Ndphase on the basis of optical microscopy. The complex [VO(DK8,8)2] is an enantiotropic discotic vanadyl complex; the monotropic behaviour of [VO(DK 10,10)2] was also confirmed. It is suggested that the discotic phase which occurs for [VO(DK 8,8)2] is more organized than that of [Cu(DK 8,8)2].