A π-π 3D network of tetranuclear μ2/μ3-carbonato Dy(III) bis-pyrazolylpyridine clusters showing single molecule magnetism features.

2,6-Di(pyrazole-3-yl)pyridine, 3-bpp, forms a porous (4(9)·6(6)) π-π mediated 3D network of trigonal pyramidal [Dy(III)(4)] carbonato-bridged complexes, with hexagonal channels comprising 54% of the unit cell volume, the material displaying slow magnetisation reversal. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012