We then employed SmCp*2(THF)2, a compound that is highly soluble in aromatic solvents such as toluene, to confirm whether the complexation proceeds at either the carbene or the phosphinoyl moieties. The complexation between SmCp*2 and one or two molecules of less sterically demanding NHCs, bearing for example N-Me and N-i Pr groups, has been previously reported. This interaction was enabled by the soft nature of the samarium(II) center in SmCp*2.