Switching the anisotropy barrier of a single-ion magnet by symmetry change from quasi-D-5h to quasi-O-h

A reversible single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation is used to dramatically change the relaxation behavior of a single-ion magnet. The coordination geometry of the Dy-III site of a [Zn-Dy-Zn] complex changes from pentagonal-bipyramid (quasi-D-5h) to octahedron (quasi-O-h), inducing an energy barrier change from 305 cm(-1) (439 K) to a negligible value, respectively. Ab initio calculations reveal that the ideal D-5h-Dy-III is of perfect axiality with a substantial energy barrier in accordance with the experimental result.