Syntheses and characterization of polynuclear metal complexes related to a chemical precursor system for the YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7–x superconductor

A chemical precursor system for the YBa2Cu3O7–x superconductor has been investigated. From [Cu2(O2CCH3)4(H2O)2], Ba(O2CCH3)2, and [Y(O2CCH3)3(H2O)4] as starting materials and acetic acid and 1,3-bis(dimethylamino)propan-2-ol (Hbdmap) as the cross-linking agents, the YBa2Cu3O7–x, powder sample obtained had an onset superconducting temperature of 92 K. Polynuclear metal complexes related to this system have been characterized. Thus [{Cu4(bdmap)2(O2CCH3)6(H2O)6}n], [LaCu2(bdmap)3(O2CCF3)4] and [Cu3(bdmap)3(O2CCF3)2]2[Y2(bdmap)2(O2CCF3)6] have been characterized structurally and their thermal and magnetic properties have been studied. The compounds decompose to the corresponding oxides when heated under an oxygen atmosphere.