diff --git a/Code/GraphMol/SmilesParse/CMakeLists.txt b/Code/GraphMol/SmilesParse/CMakeLists.txt
index 317e964d6..a87f84946 100644
--- a/Code/GraphMol/SmilesParse/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/Code/GraphMol/SmilesParse/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -77,3 +77,4 @@ rdkit_catch_test(cxsmilesTest cxsmiles_test.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES FileParsers Smile
 rdkit_test(smaTest1 smatest.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES SmilesParse SubstructMatch  )
 rdkit_catch_test(smiTestCatch catch_tests.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES FileParsers SmilesParse )
 rdkit_catch_test(nontetrahedralCatch nontetrahedral_tests.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES FileParsers SmilesParse )
+rdkit_catch_test(v2smiTestCatch v2catch_tests.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES SmilesParse )
diff --git a/Code/GraphMol/SmilesParse/SmilesParse.cpp b/Code/GraphMol/SmilesParse/SmilesParse.cpp
index c6d152458..7f55d9130 100644
--- a/Code/GraphMol/SmilesParse/SmilesParse.cpp
+++ b/Code/GraphMol/SmilesParse/SmilesParse.cpp
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ int yysmarts_lex_destroy(void *);
 size_t setup_smarts_string(const std::string &text, void *);
 extern int yysmarts_debug;
 namespace RDKit {
+namespace v2 {
+namespace SmilesParse {
 namespace {
 
 int smarts_parse_helper(const std::string &inp,
@@ -222,23 +224,24 @@ std::string labelRecursivePatterns(const std::string &sma) {
 }
 }  // namespace
 
-RWMol *toMol(const std::string &inp,
-             int func(const std::string &, std::vector<RDKit::RWMol *> &),
-             const std::string &origInp) {
+std::unique_ptr<RWMol> toMol(const std::string &inp,
+                             int func(const std::string &,
+                                      std::vector<RDKit::RWMol *> &),
+                             const std::string &origInp) {
   // empty strings produce empty molecules:
   if (inp.empty()) {
-    return new RWMol();
+    return std::make_unique<RWMol>();
   }
-  RWMol *res = nullptr;
+  std::unique_ptr<RWMol> res;
   std::vector<RDKit::RWMol *> molVect;
   try {
     func(inp, molVect);
     if (!molVect.empty()) {
-      res = molVect[0];
-      SmilesParseOps::CloseMolRings(res, false);
-      SmilesParseOps::CheckChiralitySpecifications(res, true);
-      SmilesParseOps::SetUnspecifiedBondTypes(res);
-      SmilesParseOps::AdjustAtomChiralityFlags(res);
+      res.reset(molVect[0]);
+      SmilesParseOps::CloseMolRings(res.get(), false);
+      SmilesParseOps::CheckChiralitySpecifications(res.get(), true);
+      SmilesParseOps::SetUnspecifiedBondTypes(res.get());
+      SmilesParseOps::AdjustAtomChiralityFlags(res.get());
       // No sense leaving this bookmark intact:
       if (res->hasAtomBookmark(ci_RIGHTMOST_ATOM)) {
         res->clearAtomBookmark(ci_RIGHTMOST_ATOM);
@@ -253,7 +256,10 @@ RWMol *toMol(const std::string &inp,
     }
     BOOST_LOG(rdErrorLog) << nm << " Parse Error: " << e.what()
                           << " for input: '" << origInp << "'" << std::endl;
-    res = nullptr;
+    res.reset();
+    if (!molVect.empty()) {
+      molVect[0] = nullptr;
+    }
   }
   for (auto *molPtr : molVect) {
     if (molPtr) {
@@ -266,8 +272,9 @@ RWMol *toMol(const std::string &inp,
   return res;
 }
 
-Atom *toAtom(const std::string &inp, int func(const std::string &, Atom *&)) {
-  // empty strings produce empty molecules:
+std::unique_ptr<Atom> toAtom(const std::string &inp,
+                             int func(const std::string &, Atom *&)) {
+  // empty strings produce nullptrs:
   if (inp.empty()) {
     return nullptr;
   }
@@ -283,11 +290,12 @@ Atom *toAtom(const std::string &inp, int func(const std::string &, Atom *&)) {
                           << " for input: '" << inp << "'" << std::endl;
     res = nullptr;
   }
-  return res;
+  return std::unique_ptr<Atom>(res);
 }
 
-Bond *toBond(const std::string &inp, int func(const std::string &, Bond *&)) {
-  // empty strings produce empty molecules:
+std::unique_ptr<Bond> toBond(const std::string &inp,
+                             int func(const std::string &, Bond *&)) {
+  // empty strings produce nullptrs:
   if (inp.empty()) {
     return nullptr;
   }
@@ -303,7 +311,7 @@ Bond *toBond(const std::string &inp, int func(const std::string &, Bond *&)) {
                           << " for input: '" << inp << "'" << std::endl;
     res = nullptr;
   }
-  return res;
+  return std::unique_ptr<Bond>(res);
 }
 
 namespace {
@@ -332,12 +340,11 @@ void preprocessSmiles(const std::string &smiles, const T &params,
     lsmiles = smiles;
   }
 
-  if (params.replacements) {
+  if (!params.replacements.empty()) {
     std::string smi = lsmiles;
-    bool loopAgain = true;
-    while (loopAgain) {
+    for (auto loopAgain = true; loopAgain;) {
       loopAgain = false;
-      for (const auto &pr : *(params.replacements)) {
+      for (const auto &pr : params.replacements) {
         if (smi.find(pr.first) != std::string::npos) {
           loopAgain = true;
           boost::replace_all(smi, pr.first, pr.second);
@@ -349,21 +356,17 @@ void preprocessSmiles(const std::string &smiles, const T &params,
 }
 }  // namespace
 
-Atom *SmilesToAtom(const std::string &smiles) {
+std::unique_ptr<Atom> AtomFromSmiles(const std::string &smiles) {
   yysmiles_debug = false;
 
-  Atom *res = nullptr;
-  res = toAtom(smiles, smiles_atom_parse);
-  return res;
-};
+  return toAtom(smiles, smiles_atom_parse);
+}
 
-Bond *SmilesToBond(const std::string &smiles) {
+std::unique_ptr<Bond> BondFromSmiles(const std::string &smiles) {
   yysmiles_debug = false;
 
-  Bond *res = nullptr;
-  res = toBond(smiles, smiles_bond_parse);
-  return res;
-};
+  return toBond(smiles, smiles_bond_parse);
+}
 
 namespace {
 template <typename T>
@@ -381,14 +384,12 @@ void handleCXPartAndName(RWMol *res, const T &params, const std::string &cxPart,
       } catch (...) {
         cxfailed = true;
         if (params.strictCXSMILES) {
-          delete res;
           throw;
         }
       }
       res->setProp("_CXSMILES_Data", std::string(cxPart.cbegin(), pos));
     } else if (params.strictCXSMILES && !params.parseName &&
                pos != cxPart.cend()) {
-      delete res;
       throw RDKit::SmilesParseException(
           "CXSMILES extension does not start with | and parseName=false");
     }
@@ -400,9 +401,9 @@ void handleCXPartAndName(RWMol *res, const T &params, const std::string &cxPart,
 }
 }  // namespace
 
-RWMol *SmilesToMol(const std::string &smiles,
-                   const SmilesParserParams &params) {
-  // Calling SmilesToMol in a multithreaded context is generally safe *unless*
+std::unique_ptr<RWMol> MolFromSmiles(const std::string &smiles,
+                                   const SmilesParserParams &params) {
+  // Calling MolFromSmiles in a multithreaded context is generally safe *unless*
   // the value of debugParse is different for different threads. The if
   // statement below avoids a TSAN warning in the case where multiple threads
   // all use the same value for debugParse.
@@ -414,20 +415,17 @@ RWMol *SmilesToMol(const std::string &smiles,
   preprocessSmiles(smiles, params, lsmiles, name, cxPart);
   // strip any leading/trailing whitespace:
   // boost::trim_if(smi,boost::is_any_of(" \t\r\n"));
-  RWMol *res = nullptr;
-  res = toMol(lsmiles, smiles_parse, lsmiles);
-
+  auto res = toMol(lsmiles, smiles_parse, lsmiles);
   if (!res) {
-    return nullptr;
+    return res;
   }
-  handleCXPartAndName(res, params, cxPart, name);
+  handleCXPartAndName(res.get(), params, cxPart, name);
 
-  const Conformer *conf = nullptr, *conf3d = nullptr;
   // get a conformer
-
+  const Conformer *conf = nullptr, *conf3d = nullptr;
   if (res && res->getNumConformers() > 0) {
     for (unsigned int confId = 0; confId < res->getNumConformers(); ++confId) {
-      Conformer *testConf = &res->getConformer(confId);
+      auto *testConf = &res->getConformer(confId);
       if (!testConf->is3D()) {
         if (conf == nullptr) {  // only take the first 2d conf
           conf = testConf;
@@ -460,26 +458,16 @@ RWMol *SmilesToMol(const std::string &smiles,
     MolOps::assignChiralTypesFrom3D(*res, conf3d->getId(), true);
   }
   if (conf || conf3d) {
-    try {
-      Atropisomers::detectAtropisomerChirality(*res, conf ? conf : conf3d);
-    } catch (...) {
-      delete res;
-      throw;
-    }
+    Atropisomers::detectAtropisomerChirality(*res, conf ? conf : conf3d);
   }
 
   if (res && (params.sanitize || params.removeHs)) {
-    try {
-      if (params.removeHs) {
-        bool implicitOnly = false, updateExplicitCount = true;
-        MolOps::removeHs(*res, implicitOnly, updateExplicitCount,
-                         params.sanitize);
-      } else if (params.sanitize) {
-        MolOps::sanitizeMol(*res);
-      }
-    } catch (...) {
-      delete res;
-      throw;
+    if (params.removeHs) {
+      bool implicitOnly = false, updateExplicitCount = true;
+      MolOps::removeHs(*res, implicitOnly, updateExplicitCount,
+                       params.sanitize);
+    } else if (params.sanitize) {
+      MolOps::sanitizeMol(*res);
     }
 
     if (res->hasProp(SmilesParseOps::detail::_needsDetectBondStereo)) {
@@ -510,12 +498,12 @@ RWMol *SmilesToMol(const std::string &smiles,
       // need to:
       MolOps::fastFindRings(*res);
     }
-    QueryOps::completeMolQueries(res, 0xDEADBEEF);
+    QueryOps::completeMolQueries(res.get(), 0xDEADBEEF);
   }
 
   if (res) {
     if (!params.skipCleanup) {
-      SmilesParseOps::CleanupAfterParsing(res);
+      SmilesParseOps::CleanupAfterParsing(res.get());
     }
     if (!name.empty()) {
       res->setProp(common_properties::_Name, name);
@@ -524,25 +512,21 @@ RWMol *SmilesToMol(const std::string &smiles,
   return res;
 };
 
-Atom *SmartsToAtom(const std::string &smiles) {
+std::unique_ptr<Atom> AtomFromSmarts(const std::string &smiles) {
   yysmarts_debug = false;
 
-  Atom *res = nullptr;
-  res = toAtom(smiles, smarts_atom_parse);
-  return res;
+  return toAtom(smiles, smarts_atom_parse);
 };
 
-Bond *SmartsToBond(const std::string &smiles) {
+std::unique_ptr<Bond> BondFromSmarts(const std::string &smiles) {
   yysmarts_debug = false;
 
-  Bond *res = nullptr;
-  res = toBond(smiles, smarts_bond_parse);
-  return res;
+  return toBond(smiles, smarts_bond_parse);
 };
 
-RWMol *SmartsToMol(const std::string &smarts,
-                   const SmartsParserParams &params) {
-  // Calling SmartsToMol in a multithreaded context is generally safe *unless*
+std::unique_ptr<RWMol> MolFromSmarts(const std::string &smarts,
+                                   const SmartsParserParams &params) {
+  // Calling MolFromSmarts in a multithreaded context is generally safe *unless*
   // the value of debugParse is different for different threads. The if
   // statement below avoids a TSAN warning in the case where multiple threads
   // all use the same value for debugParse.
@@ -553,21 +537,15 @@ RWMol *SmartsToMol(const std::string &smarts,
   std::string lsmarts, name, cxPart;
   preprocessSmiles(smarts, params, lsmarts, name, cxPart);
 
-  RWMol *res = nullptr;
-  res = toMol(labelRecursivePatterns(lsmarts), smarts_parse, lsmarts);
-  handleCXPartAndName(res, params, cxPart, name);
+  auto res = toMol(labelRecursivePatterns(lsmarts), smarts_parse, lsmarts);
+  handleCXPartAndName(res.get(), params, cxPart, name);
   if (res) {
     if (params.mergeHs) {
-      try {
-        MolOps::mergeQueryHs(*res);
-      } catch (...) {
-        delete res;
-        throw;
-      }
+      MolOps::mergeQueryHs(*res);
     }
     MolOps::setBondStereoFromDirections(*res);
     if (!params.skipCleanup) {
-      SmilesParseOps::CleanupAfterParsing(res);
+      SmilesParseOps::CleanupAfterParsing(res.get());
     }
     if (!name.empty()) {
       res->setProp(common_properties::_Name, name);
@@ -575,4 +553,6 @@ RWMol *SmartsToMol(const std::string &smarts,
   }
   return res;
 };
+}  // namespace SmilesParse
+}  // namespace v2
 }  // namespace RDKit
diff --git a/Code/GraphMol/SmilesParse/SmilesParse.h b/Code/GraphMol/SmilesParse/SmilesParse.h
index 139b557ce..60a800461 100644
--- a/Code/GraphMol/SmilesParse/SmilesParse.h
+++ b/Code/GraphMol/SmilesParse/SmilesParse.h
@@ -11,13 +11,85 @@
 #ifndef RD_SMILESPARSE_H
 #define RD_SMILESPARSE_H
 
-#include <GraphMol/RWMol.h>
 #include <GraphMol/SanitException.h>
 #include <string>
 #include <exception>
 #include <map>
+#include <memory>
 
 namespace RDKit {
+class RWMol;
+class Atom;
+class Bond;
+
+namespace SmilesParse {
+class RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT SmilesParseException : public std::exception {
+ public:
+  SmilesParseException(const char *msg) : _msg(msg) {}
+  SmilesParseException(const std::string msg) : _msg(msg) {}
+  const char *what() const noexcept override { return _msg.c_str(); }
+  ~SmilesParseException() noexcept override = default;
+
+ private:
+  std::string _msg;
+};
+
+}  // namespace SmilesParse
+
+namespace v2 {
+namespace SmilesParse {
+using RDKit::SmilesParse::SmilesParseException;
+
+struct RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT SmilesParserParams {
+  bool sanitize = true; /**< sanitize the molecule after building it */
+  std::map<std::string, std::string>
+      replacements;          /**< allows SMILES "macros" */
+  bool allowCXSMILES = true; /**< recognize and parse CXSMILES*/
+  bool strictCXSMILES =
+      true; /**< throw an exception if the CXSMILES parsing fails */
+  bool parseName = true; /**< parse (and set) the molecule name as well */
+  bool removeHs = true;  /**< remove Hs after constructing the molecule */
+  bool skipCleanup =
+      false; /**<  skip the final cleanup stage */
+  bool debugParse = false; /**< enable debugging in the SMILES parser*/
+};
+
+struct RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT SmartsParserParams {
+  std::map<std::string, std::string>
+      replacements;          /**< allows SMARTS "macros" */
+  bool allowCXSMILES = true; /**< recognize and parse CXSMILES extensions */
+  bool strictCXSMILES =
+      true; /**< throw an exception if the CXSMILES parsing fails */
+  bool parseName = true; /**< parse (and set) the molecule name as well */
+  bool mergeHs =
+      false; /**< toggles merging H atoms in the SMARTS into neighboring atoms*/
+  bool skipCleanup =
+      false; /**<  skip the final cleanup stage */
+  bool debugParse = false; /**< enable debugging in the SMARTS parser*/
+};
+
+RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT std::unique_ptr<RDKit::RWMol> MolFromSmiles(
+    const std::string &smi,
+    const SmilesParserParams &params = SmilesParserParams());
+RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT std::unique_ptr<RDKit::RWMol> MolFromSmarts(
+    const std::string &sma,
+    const SmartsParserParams &params = SmartsParserParams());
+
+RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT std::unique_ptr<RDKit::Atom> AtomFromSmiles(
+    const std::string &smi);
+RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT std::unique_ptr<RDKit::Bond> BondFromSmiles(
+    const std::string &smi);
+
+RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT std::unique_ptr<RDKit::Atom> AtomFromSmarts(
+    const std::string &sma);
+RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT std::unique_ptr<RDKit::Bond> BondFromSmarts(
+    const std::string &sma);
+
+}  // namespace SmilesParse
+}  // namespace v2
+
+inline namespace v1 {
+using RDKit::SmilesParse::SmilesParseException;
 
 struct RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT SmilesParserParams {
   int debugParse = 0;   /**< enable debugging in the SMILES parser*/
@@ -30,13 +102,48 @@ struct RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT SmilesParserParams {
   bool parseName = true; /**< parse (and set) the molecule name as well */
   bool removeHs = true;  /**< remove Hs after constructing the molecule */
   bool skipCleanup =
-      false; /**<  skip the final cleanup stage (for internal use) */
+      false; /**<  skip the final cleanup stage */
 };
-RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT RWMol *SmilesToMol(const std::string &smi,
-                                            const SmilesParserParams &params);
 
-RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT Atom *SmilesToAtom(const std::string &smi);
-RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT Bond *SmilesToBond(const std::string &smi);
+struct RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT SmartsParserParams {
+  int debugParse = 0; /**< enable debugging in the SMARTS parser*/
+  std::map<std::string, std::string> *replacements =
+      nullptr;               /**< allows SMARTS "macros" */
+  bool allowCXSMILES = true; /**< recognize and parse CXSMILES extensions */
+  bool strictCXSMILES =
+      true; /**< throw an exception if the CXSMILES parsing fails */
+  bool parseName = true; /**< parse (and set) the molecule name as well */
+  bool mergeHs =
+      false; /**< toggles merging H atoms in the SMARTS into neighboring atoms*/
+  bool skipCleanup =
+      false; /**<  skip the final cleanup stage */
+};
+
+inline RDKit::RWMol *SmilesToMol(const std::string &smi,
+                                 const SmilesParserParams &ps) {
+  RDKit::v2::SmilesParse::SmilesParserParams v2ps;
+  v2ps.debugParse = ps.debugParse;
+  v2ps.sanitize = ps.sanitize;
+
+  if (ps.replacements) {
+    v2ps.replacements = *ps.replacements;
+  }
+  v2ps.allowCXSMILES = ps.allowCXSMILES;
+  v2ps.strictCXSMILES = ps.strictCXSMILES;
+  v2ps.parseName = ps.parseName;
+  v2ps.removeHs = ps.removeHs;
+  v2ps.skipCleanup = ps.skipCleanup;
+  return RDKit::v2::SmilesParse::MolFromSmiles(smi, v2ps).release();
+}
+
+inline Atom *SmilesToAtom(const std::string &smi) {
+  auto res = RDKit::v2::SmilesParse::AtomFromSmiles(smi).release();
+  return res;
+}
+
+inline Bond *SmilesToBond(const std::string &smi) {
+  return RDKit::v2::SmilesParse::BondFromSmiles(smi).release();
+}
 
 //! Construct a molecule from a SMILES string
 /*!
@@ -68,9 +175,11 @@ RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT Bond *SmilesToBond(const std::string &smi);
 inline RWMol *SmilesToMol(
     const std::string &smi, int debugParse = 0, bool sanitize = true,
     std::map<std::string, std::string> *replacements = nullptr) {
-  SmilesParserParams params;
+  RDKit::v2::SmilesParse::SmilesParserParams params;
   params.debugParse = debugParse;
-  params.replacements = replacements;
+  if (replacements) {
+    params.replacements = *replacements;
+  }
   if (sanitize) {
     params.sanitize = true;
     params.removeHs = true;
@@ -78,24 +187,24 @@ inline RWMol *SmilesToMol(
     params.sanitize = false;
     params.removeHs = false;
   }
-  return SmilesToMol(smi, params);
+  return RDKit::v2::SmilesParse::MolFromSmiles(smi, params).release();
 };
 
-struct RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT SmartsParserParams {
-  int debugParse = 0; /**< enable debugging in the SMARTS parser*/
-  std::map<std::string, std::string> *replacements =
-      nullptr;               /**< allows SMARTS "macros" */
-  bool allowCXSMILES = true; /**< recognize and parse CXSMILES extensions */
-  bool strictCXSMILES =
-      true; /**< throw an exception if the CXSMILES parsing fails */
-  bool parseName = true; /**< parse (and set) the molecule name as well */
-  bool mergeHs =
-      true; /**< toggles merging H atoms in the SMARTS into neighboring atoms*/
-  bool skipCleanup =
-      false; /**<  skip the final cleanup stage (for internal use) */
-};
-RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT RWMol *SmartsToMol(const std::string &sma,
-                                            const SmartsParserParams &ps);
+inline RWMol *SmartsToMol(const std::string &sma,
+                          const SmartsParserParams &ps) {
+  RDKit::v2::SmilesParse::SmartsParserParams v2ps;
+  v2ps.debugParse = ps.debugParse;
+  if (ps.replacements) {
+    v2ps.replacements = *ps.replacements;
+  }
+  v2ps.allowCXSMILES = ps.allowCXSMILES;
+  v2ps.strictCXSMILES = ps.strictCXSMILES;
+  v2ps.parseName = ps.parseName;
+  v2ps.mergeHs = ps.mergeHs;
+  v2ps.skipCleanup = ps.skipCleanup;
+
+  return RDKit::v2::SmilesParse::MolFromSmarts(sma, v2ps).release();
+}
 
 //! Construct a molecule from a SMARTS string
 /*!
@@ -112,45 +221,36 @@ RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT RWMol *SmartsToMol(const std::string &sma,
 inline RWMol *SmartsToMol(
     const std::string &sma, int debugParse = 0, bool mergeHs = false,
     std::map<std::string, std::string> *replacements = nullptr) {
-  SmartsParserParams ps;
+  RDKit::v2::SmilesParse::SmartsParserParams ps;
   ps.debugParse = debugParse;
   ps.mergeHs = mergeHs;
-  ps.replacements = replacements;
-  return SmartsToMol(sma, ps);
+  if (replacements) {
+    ps.replacements = *replacements;
+  }
+  return RDKit::v2::SmilesParse::MolFromSmarts(sma, ps).release();
 };
 
-RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT Atom *SmartsToAtom(const std::string &sma);
-RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT Bond *SmartsToBond(const std::string &sma);
-
-class RDKIT_SMILESPARSE_EXPORT SmilesParseException : public std::exception {
- public:
-  SmilesParseException(const char *msg) : _msg(msg) {}
-  SmilesParseException(const std::string msg) : _msg(msg) {}
-  const char *what() const noexcept override { return _msg.c_str(); }
-  ~SmilesParseException() noexcept override = default;
-
- private:
-  std::string _msg;
-};
+inline Atom *SmartsToAtom(const std::string &sma) {
+  return RDKit::v2::SmilesParse::AtomFromSmarts(sma).release();
+}
+inline Bond *SmartsToBond(const std::string &sma) {
+  return RDKit::v2::SmilesParse::BondFromSmarts(sma).release();
+}
+}  // namespace v1
 
 inline std::unique_ptr<RDKit::RWMol> operator"" _smiles(const char *text,
                                                         size_t len) {
   std::string smi(text, len);
-  RWMol *ptr = nullptr;
   try {
-    ptr = SmilesToMol(smi);
+    return v2::SmilesParse::MolFromSmiles(smi);
   } catch (const RDKit::MolSanitizeException &) {
-    ptr = nullptr;
+    return nullptr;
   }
-  return std::unique_ptr<RWMol>(ptr);
 }
 inline std::unique_ptr<RDKit::RWMol> operator"" _smarts(const char *text,
                                                         size_t len) {
   std::string smi(text, len);
-  // no need for exception handling here: SmartsToMol() doesn't do
-  // sanitization
-  RWMol *ptr = SmartsToMol(smi);
-  return std::unique_ptr<RWMol>(ptr);
+  return v2::SmilesParse::MolFromSmarts(smi);
 }
 
 }  // namespace RDKit
diff --git a/Code/GraphMol/SmilesParse/v2catch_tests.cpp b/Code/GraphMol/SmilesParse/v2catch_tests.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9e29a2c36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Code/GraphMol/SmilesParse/v2catch_tests.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+//
+//  Copyright (C) 2023 Greg Landrum and other RDKit contributors
+//
+//   @@ All Rights Reserved @@
+//  This file is part of the RDKit.
+//  The contents are covered by the terms of the BSD license
+//  which is included in the file license.txt, found at the root
+//  of the RDKit source tree.
+//
+
+#include <catch2/catch_all.hpp>
+#ifdef RDK_BUILD_THREADSAFE_SSS
+#include <future>
+#include <thread>
+#endif
+
+#include <GraphMol/RDKitBase.h>
+#include <GraphMol/MolPickler.h>
+#include <GraphMol/QueryAtom.h>
+#include <GraphMol/QueryBond.h>
+#include <GraphMol/Chirality.h>
+#include <GraphMol/SmilesParse/SmilesParse.h>
+#include <GraphMol/SmilesParse/SmilesWrite.h>
+#include <GraphMol/SmilesParse/SmartsWrite.h>
+
+using namespace RDKit::v2;
+
+TEST_CASE("v2 basics") {
+  {
+    auto mol = SmilesParse::MolFromSmiles("CCO[H]");
+    REQUIRE(mol);
+    CHECK(mol->getNumAtoms() == 3);
+  }
+  {
+    SmilesParse::SmilesParserParams ps;
+    ps.removeHs = false;
+    auto mol = SmilesParse::MolFromSmiles("CCO[H]", ps);
+    REQUIRE(mol);
+    CHECK(mol->getNumAtoms() == 4);
+  }
+  {
+    auto mol = SmilesParse::MolFromSmarts("[H]CC[R]");
+    REQUIRE(mol);
+    CHECK(mol->getNumAtoms() == 4);
+  }
+  {
+    SmilesParse::SmartsParserParams ps;
+    ps.mergeHs = true;
+    auto mol = SmilesParse::MolFromSmarts("[H]CC[R]", ps);
+    REQUIRE(mol);
+    CHECK(mol->getNumAtoms() == 3);
+  }
+  {
+    auto atm = SmilesParse::AtomFromSmiles("C");
+    REQUIRE(atm);
+  }
+  {
+    auto bnd = SmilesParse::BondFromSmiles("-");
+    REQUIRE(bnd);
+  }
+  {
+    auto atm = SmilesParse::AtomFromSmarts("[R]");
+    REQUIRE(atm);
+  }
+  {
+    auto bnd = SmilesParse::BondFromSmarts("@");
+    REQUIRE(bnd);
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Code/JavaWrappers/RDKitExceptions.i b/Code/JavaWrappers/RDKitExceptions.i
index 3f5dabe37..867286656 100644
--- a/Code/JavaWrappers/RDKitExceptions.i
+++ b/Code/JavaWrappers/RDKitExceptions.i
@@ -110,14 +110,14 @@
 %}
 
 // ===== SmilesParseException =====
-%typemap(javabase) RDKit::SmilesParseException "java.lang.RuntimeException";
-%typemap(throws, throws="org.RDKit.SmilesParseException") RDKit::SmilesParseException {
+%typemap(javabase) RDKit::SmilesParse::SmilesParseException "java.lang.RuntimeException";
+%typemap(throws, throws="org.RDKit.SmilesParseException") RDKit::SmilesParse::SmilesParseException {
   jclass excep = jenv->FindClass("org/RDKit/SmilesParseException");
   if (excep)
     jenv->ThrowNew(excep, $1.what());
   return $null;
 }
-%typemap(javacode) RDKit::SmilesParseException %{
+%typemap(javacode) RDKit::SmilesParse::SmilesParseException %{
   public String getMessage() {
     return what();
   }
diff --git a/Code/JavaWrappers/RWMol.i b/Code/JavaWrappers/RWMol.i
index 672657996..c2f232ff3 100644
--- a/Code/JavaWrappers/RWMol.i
+++ b/Code/JavaWrappers/RWMol.i
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@
 %javaconst(1);
 #endif
 %include <GraphMol/FileParsers/FileParsers.h>
+%ignore RDKit::v2;
+%ignore RDKit::v2::SmilesParse;
 %include <GraphMol/SmilesParse/SmilesParse.h>
 %include <GraphMol/RWMol.h>
 
@@ -76,7 +78,7 @@
                                          std::map<std::string,std::string> *replacements=0){
     return RDKit::RWMOL_SPTR(RDKit::SmilesToMol(smi, debugParse, sanitize,replacements));
   }
-  static RDKit::RWMOL_SPTR MolFromSmiles(const std::string &smi, const RDKit::SmilesParserParams &params){
+  static RDKit::RWMOL_SPTR MolFromSmiles(const std::string &smi, const RDKit::v1::SmilesParserParams &params){
     return RDKit::RWMOL_SPTR(RDKit::SmilesToMol(smi, params));
   }
   static RDKit::RWMOL_SPTR MolFromSmarts(const std::string &sma,int debugParse=0,bool mergeHs=false,
diff --git a/Code/JavaWrappers/SmilesParse.i b/Code/JavaWrappers/SmilesParse.i
index c2a7fd76f..406b1319d 100644
--- a/Code/JavaWrappers/SmilesParse.i
+++ b/Code/JavaWrappers/SmilesParse.i
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 %{
 #include <GraphMol/SmilesParse/SmilesParse.h>
 %}
+%ignore RDKit::v2;
 %ignore SmilesToMol;
 %ignore SmartsToMol;
 %include <GraphMol/SmilesParse/SmilesParse.h>
diff --git a/Code/JavaWrappers/csharp_wrapper/GraphMolCSharp.i b/Code/JavaWrappers/csharp_wrapper/GraphMolCSharp.i
index ee6dd8f64..70fa5d9b4 100644
--- a/Code/JavaWrappers/csharp_wrapper/GraphMolCSharp.i
+++ b/Code/JavaWrappers/csharp_wrapper/GraphMolCSharp.i
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ typedef unsigned long long int	uintmax_t;
 %shared_ptr(RDKit::AtomValenceException)
 %shared_ptr(RDKit::AtomKekulizeException)
 %shared_ptr(RDKit::KekulizeException)
-%shared_ptr(RDKit::SmilesParseException)
+%shared_ptr(RDKit::SmilesParse::SmilesParseException)
 %shared_ptr(RDKit::RingInfo)
 %shared_ptr(RDKit::ChemicalReaction)
 %shared_ptr(ForceFields::ForceFieldContrib);