A family of DyX4M(12-MCMnIII(N)shi(-4)) compounds were synthesized and magnetically characterized (X = salicylate, acetate, benzoate, trimethylacetate, M = Na-I or K-I). The bridging ligands were systematically varied while keeping the remainder of the MC-geometry constant. The type of monovalent cation, necessary for charge balance, was also altered. The dc magnetization and susceptibility of all compounds were similar across the series. Regardless of the identity of the countercation, the Dy(Hsal)(4)M 12-MC-4 compounds were the only compounds to show frequency-dependent ac magnetic susceptibility, a hallmark of single-molecule magnetism. This indicates that the nature of the bridging ligand in the 12-MCMnIII(N)shi-4 compounds strongly affects the out-of-phase magnetic properties. The SMM behavior appears to correlate with the pK(a) of the bridging ligand.