Samarium(III) iodide

Samarium iodide is an inorganic compound, a salt of samarium and hydroiodic acid with the chemical formula.

Synthesis

Samarium iodide is prepared by the reaction of metallic samarium and iodine:

Properties

Samarium iodide is a yellow powder that is unstable in air and decomposes in water. When heated with metallic samarium, it forms samarium diiodide:
Reduction by hydrogen also affords samarium diiodide upon heating:

Applications

The compound is commercially available and used in organic reactions as a catalyst.