Samarium(III) iodide

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

Synthesis
Samarium(III) iodide is prepared by the reaction of metallic samarium and iodine:

Properties
Samarium(III) iodide is a yellow powder that is unstable in air and decomposes in water (hydrolysis). When heated with metallic samarium, it forms samarium diiodide:

Reduction by hydrogen also affords samarium diiodide:

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