The reaction of Ln(NO3)(3)center dot 6H(2)O (Ln = Gd, Dy) with triethanolamine (teaH(3)) and triethylamine in MeOH gives two isostructural hexanuclear wheels of formula [Ln(6)(teaH)(6)(NO3)(6)]center dot 8MeOH, the magnetic properties of which show slow magnetisation relaxation in the Dy case.