The synthesis and characterization of the series of divalent first-row aryl transition-metal(II) halide compounds [Cr(mu-Cl)Ar'](2) (1) and (Li(OEt2)Ar' MI2](2) (M = Mn (2), Fe (3), and Co (4); Ar' C(6)H(3-)2,6-(C6H3-2,6-'Pr-2)(2)) are described. 1 - 4 were prepared by the addition of one equiv of Ar'Li to the respective transition- metal dihalides. They were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, magnetic measurements, and by X-ray crystallography. In dimeric 1, each chromium center has quasi-four-coordinate, square-planar geometry, in which the metal is terminally bound to a terphenyl ligand through the ipso carbon of the central ring and to two bridging chloride ligands. There is a further interaction between chromium and an ipso carbon from one of the flanking -C6H3-2,6'Pr-2 rings. In contrast, for the iodo derivatives 2-4, Lil is not eliminated upon addition of LiAr' to MI2. Instead, the diethyl ether solvated adducts, [Li(OEt2)Ar'MI2](2) (M = Mn (2), Fe (3), or Co (4)) were isolated. These possess a distorted cubane Li2M2I4 core, in which the lithiums are bound to an ether and the transition metals are bound to a terphenyl group. Magnetic measurements between 2 and 300 K reveal the expected weak antiferromagnetic exchange coupling in each of the complexes.