New heterometallic copper zinc alkoxides: synthesis, structure properties and pyrolysis to Cu/ZnO composites

The copper compound [(THF)KCu(O ' Bu)(3)](infinity) 1 was obtained by inter action of a 1:1 mixture of ZnCl2/CuCl2 with KO ' Bu. Bi-and trifunctional a minoalcohols were used to synthesize the intramolecularly donor stabilized Cu(II) alkoxides Cu(OCH(R)CH2NMe2)(2) (3: R = Me, 4: = CH2NMe2) Where 4 was structurally characterized. Lewis acid-base adduct formation with (Me3Si)( 3)CZnCl gave the heterodinuclear compounds (Me3Si)(3)CZnCl . Cu(OCH(R)CH2NM e2). (5: R = Me, 6: R = CH2NMe2), which were characterized by X-ray single- crystal structure analysis. The two metal centers Cu and Zn of 5 and 6 are bridged by two oxygen atoms to form a Cu-O-Zn core. Pyrolysis of compounds 5 and 6 in dry argon or a H-2/N-2 mixture at atmospheric pressure forms met allic copper and zinc oxide, whereas pyrolysis under O-2/Ar forms additiona lly oxidized copper species. Elemental analysis of the pyrolysis products s howed carbon and nitrogen contamination. Scanning electron microscopy and e nergy dispersive X-ray analysis were performed to get information on the mo rphology and the chemical composition of the pyrolysis products. (C) 2001 E lsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.