Insulator-superconductor transition in TlBa 2-x Sr x Ca 0.4 Pr 0.6 Cu 2 O 7-δ has been investigated by a joint Rietveld refinement of neutron and X-ray diffraction data, Raman scattering, and infrared absorption studies. For x ) 0, the system is an insulator. Substitution of the Ba 2+ ions by smaller Sr 2+ ions leads to a transition from semiconductor to metal then superconductor for x ) 1.0. Further, the superconducting transition temperature (T c ) increases with x. Results of the joint neutron/X-ray Rietveld refinement revealed that the Tl-O(1) apical bond length does not change appreciably while the Cu-O(1) bond length decreases largely when x increases, consistent with an electron transfer from Cu to Tl. This idea is supported by the Raman scattering measurements showing a large frequency shift of the phonon mode involving the motion of O(1) toward Tl, when Ba is replaced by Sr.