The intermediate phases (formula presented) (formula presented) have been prepared, and their structure and physical properties are studied by x-ray powder diffraction, Raman, ESR, electric conductivity, and ac susceptibility measurements under ambient and high pressures. The x-ray powder diffraction pattern of (formula presented) (formula presented) can be indexed as a mixture of the body-centered-orthorhombic (bco) and cubic (formula presented) phases. The (formula presented) phase diminishes above 30 kbar. The broad ESR peak due to the conduction electron (formula presented) is observed only for the phases around (formula presented) in (formula presented) The resistivity of the (formula presented) (formula presented) sample follows the granular metal theory and/or Sheng model even in the sample exhibiting a broad ESR peak. No superconducting transition is observed up to 10.6 kbar in (formula presented) (formula presented) These results present that bco phase of (formula presented) (formula presented) is a final candidate for a pressure-induced superconductor. © 2002 The American Physical Society.