Lately I'm trying to prepare samarium(ll) iodide using samarium powder and iodine. First, I flame dried the round-bottom flask and the samarium powder under vacuum together, then, THF was added (dried with Na, and degassed with Ar before use). The mixture of samarium (1.0 equiv) and THF was vigorously stirred, at last, iodine (1.5 equiv) was added, after that, flush the whole system with Ar three times. The reaction mixture was heated at 60 degree for 18 h. But I get a brown solution(or yellow to green solution) with precipitate after stirring for the indicated time (I've also tried room temperature, but also can't get a navy blue solution). I'm just wondering what's wrong with the experimental step described above? Or is there anyone who have prepared samarium iodide (SmI2) in laboratory before?