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

The copper compound [(THF)KCu(O^tBu)₃]_∞ 1 was obtained by interaction of a 1:1 mixture of ZnCl₂/CuCl₂ with KO^tBu. Bi- and trifunctional aminoalcohols 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)₃CZnCl gave the heterodinuclear compounds (Me₃Si)₃CZnCl · Cu(OCH(R)CH₂NMe₂)₂ (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 H₂/N₂ mixture at atmospheric pressure forms metallic copper and zinc oxide, whereas pyrolysis under O₂/Ar forms additionally oxidized copper species. Elemental analysis of the pyrolysis products showed carbon and nitrogen contamination. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis were performed to get information on the morphology and the chemical composition of the pyrolysis products.