A new construction is given for obtaining R-matrices which solve the McGuire-Yang-Baxter equation in such a way that the spectral parameters do not possess the difference property. A discussion of the derivation of the supersymmetric U model for correlated electrons is given in this context, such that applied chemical potential and magentic field terms can be coupled arbitrarily. As a limiting case the Bariev model is obtained. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.