Synthesis of a new class of heteroleptic samarium aryloxide complexes has been achieved by the use of homoleptic samarium(II) bis(aryloxide) Sm(OAr)(2)(THF)(3) (1, Ar = C(6)H(2)Bu(t)(2)-2,6-Me-4) as a starting material, which is easily obtained by reaction of Sm(N(SiMe(3))(2))(2)(THF)(2) with 2 equiv of ArOH in THF. 1 reacts with 1 equiv of SmI(2) in THF to give Sm(II) mixed aryloxide/iodide [(ArO)Sm(&mgr;-I)(THF)(3)](2) (2), which adopts a dimeric structure via very weak Sm.I (3.534(2) Å) interactions. Reaction of 2 with C(5)Me(5)K in THF/HMPA affords the corresponding Sm(II) aryloxide/cyclopentadienide (C(5)Me(5))Sm(OAr)(HMPA)(2) (3). Oxidation of 1 with 0.5 equiv of I(2) in THF gives monomeric samarium(III) aryloxide/iodide (ArO)(2)SmI(THF)(2) (4), while the similar reaction of 1 with ClCH(2)CH(2)Cl or (t)BuCl in THF affords dimeric samarium(III) aryloxide/chloride [(ArO)(2)Sm(&mgr;-Cl)(THF)](2) (5). Crystal data for 1: monoclinic, space group P2(1), a = 9.903(3) Å, b = 16.718(5) Å, c = 13.267(2) Å, beta = 95.17(2) degrees, V = 2187(2) Å(3), Z = 2, D(c) = 1.223 g cm(-)(3), R = 0.0634. Crystal data for 2.2THF: monoclinic, space group P2(1)/a, a = 18.330(6) Å, b = 14.320(4) Å, c = 13.949(3) Å, beta = 103.16(2) degrees, V = 3563(2) Å(3), Z = 2, D(c) = 1.46 g cm(-)(3), R = 0.0606. Crystal data for 3: triclinic, space group P&onemacr;, a = 10.528(1) Å, b = 12.335(2) Å, c = 19.260(2) Å, alpha = 101.33(1) degrees, beta = 95.230(9) degrees, gamma = 108.54(1) degrees, V = 2293.1(5) Å(3), Z = 2, D(c) = 1.25 g cm(-)(3), R = 0.0358. Crystal data for 4: monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 17.191(7) Å, b = 10.737(6) Å, c = 21.773(7) Å, beta = 98.80(3) degrees, V = 3971(3) Å(3), Z = 4, D(c) = 1.44 g cm(-)(3), R = 0.0467. Crystal data for 5: monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 13.750(3) Å, b = 17.231(3) Å, c = 14.973(6) Å, beta = 95.81(2) degrees, V = 3529(2) Å(3), Z = 2, D(c) = 1.31 g cm(-)(3), R = 0.0557.