Designing asymmetric Dy single-molecule magnets with two-step relaxation processes by the modification of the coordination environments of Dy(iii) ions.

The reaction of Dy(NO3)3·6H2O and an asymmetric Schiff-base linker 5-chloro-2-(((2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)imino)methyl) phenol (H2L) afforded a dinuclear compound [Dy2L2(HL)(NO3)(EtOH)]·0.5C2H5OH (1). Complex 1 features two inequivalent Dy(iii) sites, where three ligand sets (one HL- moiety and two L2- groups) are shared by two Dy(iii) ions.