Methyl 2,6‐dicarboxybenzoate

Regioselective methyl­ation of hemimellitic acid in basic MeOH yields the title 2‐methyl ester, C₁₀H₈O₆, of the parent acid. The asymmetric unit contains one complete mol­ecule, which packs with the methyl ester groups lying between zigzag chains produced by hydrogen bonding, utilizing the head‐to‐tail carboxylic acid–acid dimer motif.     

Conformation of tert‐butoxy­carbonyl­glycyl‐dehydro­alanyl‐glycine methyl ester in the crystalline state and calculated in the gas phase

tert‐Butoxy­carbonyl­glycyl‐dehydro­alanyl‐glycine methyl ester (systematic name: methyl {2‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonylamino)­acetamido]prop‐2‐enamido}acetate) (Boc⁰‐Gly¹‐ΔAla²‐Gly³‐OMe), C₁₃H₂₁N₃O₆, has been structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and by density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6–311+G** level. The peptide chain in both the solid‐state and calculated structures adopts neither β nor γ turns. All amino acid residues in the tripeptide sequence are linked trans to each other. The bond lengths and valence angles of the amino acid units in the crystal structure and gas phase are comparable. However, the conformation of the third glycyl residue (Gly³) is different in the crystalline state and in the gas phase. It is stabilized in the calculated structure by an additional intra­molecular short contact between Gly³ NH and methyl ester COMe groups.     

Photocatalytic Water Oxidation by a Mixed‐Valent MnIII3MnIVO3 Manganese Oxo Core that Mimics the Natural Oxygen‐Evolving Center

The functional core of oxygenic photosynthesis is in charge of catalytic water oxidation by a multi‐redox Mn^III/Mn^IV manifold that evolves through five electronic states (S_i , where i=0–4). The synthetic model system of this catalytic cycle and of its S₀→S₄ intermediates is the expected turning point for artificial photosynthesis. The tetramanganese‐substituted tungstosilicate [Mn^III₃Mn^IVO₃(CH₃COO)₃(A‐α‐SiW₉O₃₄)]^6? (Mn₄POM) offers an unprecedented mimicry of the natural system in its reduced S₀ state; it features a hybrid organic–inorganic coordination sphere and is anchored on a polyoxotungstate. Evidence for its photosynthetic properties when combined with [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ and S₂O₈^2? is obtained by nanosecond laser flash photolysis; its S₀→S₁ transition within milliseconds and multiple‐hole‐accumulating properties were studied. Photocatalytic oxygen evolution is achieved in a buffered medium (pH 5) with a quantum efficiency of 1.7 %.     

Synthesis of imidazole‐terminated hyperbranched polymers with POSS‐branching points and their pH responsive and coordination properties

An imidazole‐terminated hyperbranched polymer with octafunctional POSS branching units denoted as POSS‐HYPAM‐Im was prepared by the polymerization of excess amounts of tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine with the first‐generation methyl ester‐terminated POSS‐core poly(amidoamine)‐typed dendrimer, reacting with methyl acrylate, and ester‐amide exchange reaction with 3‐aminopropylimidazole. The imidazole‐terminated hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) denoted as HYPAM‐Im was also synthesized with 1‐(3‐aminopropyl)imidazole from a methyl ester‐terminated hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) by the ester‐amide exchange reaction. The transmittance of the POSS‐HYPAM‐Im solution drastically decreased when the solution pH was greater than 8.2. On the other hand, the transmittance of the HYPAM‐Im solution gradually decreased when the solution pH at 8.5 and was greater than 9. Spectrophotometric titrations of the hyperbranched polymer aqueous solutions with Cu²⁺ ions indicated the variation of the coordination modes of POSS‐HYPAM‐Im from the Cu²⁺–N₄ complex to the Cu²⁺–N₂O₂ complex and the existence of the only one complexation mode of Cu²⁺–N₄ between Cu²⁺ ion and HYPAM‐Im with increasing the concentrations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2695–2701     

A Versatile Halide Ester Enabling Li‐Anode Stability and a High Rate Capability in Lithium–Oxygen Batteries

Li‐O₂ batteries are promising candidates for next‐generation high‐energy‐density battery systems. However, the main problems of Li–O₂ batteries include the poor rate capability of the cathode and the instability of the Li anode. Herein, an ester‐based liquid additive, 2,2,2‐trichloroethyl chloroformate, was introduced into the conventional electrolyte of a Li–O₂ battery. Versatile effects of this additive on the oxygen cathode and the Li metal anode became evident. The Li–O₂ battery showed an outstanding rate capability of 2005 mAh g^?1 with a remarkably decreased charge potential at a large current density of 1000 mA g^?1. The positive effect of the halide ester on the rate capacity is associated with the improved solubility of Li₂O₂ in the electrolyte and the increased diffusion rate of O₂. Furthermore, the ester promotes the formation of a solid–electrolyte interphase layer on the surface of the Li metal, which restrains the loss and volume change of the Li electrode during stripping and plating, thereby achieving a cycling stability over 900 h and a Li capacity utilization of up to 10 mAh cm^?2.     

Quantification of methyl thiocyanate in the headspace of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultures and in the breath of cystic fibrosis patients by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry

Infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Breath analysis could potentially be a useful diagnostic of such infection, and analyses of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from PA cultures are an important part of the search for volatile breath markers of PA lung infection. Our pilot experiments using solid‐phase microextraction, SPME and gas chromatography/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analyses of volatile compounds produced by PA strains indicated a clear presence of methyl thiocyanate. This provided a motivation to develop a method for real‐time online quantification of this compound by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry, SIFT‐MS. The kinetics of reactions of H₃O⁺, NO⁺ and O₂^+? with methyl thiocyanate at 300 K were characterized and the characteristic product ions determined (proton transfer for H₃O⁺, rate constant 4.6 × 10^–9 cm³ s^–1; association for NO⁺, 1.7 × 10^–9 cm³ s^–1 and nondissociative charge transfer for O₂^+?_, 4.3 × 10^–9 cm³ s^–1). The kinetics library was extended by a new entry for methyl thiocyanate accounting for overlaps with isotopologues of hydrated hydronium ions. Solubility of methyl thiocyanate in water (Henry's law constant) was determined using standard reference solutions and the linearity and limits of detection of both SIFT‐MS and SPME‐GC/MS methods were characterized. Thirty‐six strains of PA with distinct genotype were cultivated under identical conditions and 28 of them (all also producing HCN) were found to release methyl thiocyanate in headspace concentrations greater than 6 parts per billion by volume (ppbv). SIFT‐MS was also used to analyze the breath of 28 children with CF and the concentrations of methyl thiocyanate were found to be in the range 2–21 ppbv (median 7 ppbv). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SIFT studies of the reactions of H3O+, NO+ and O+2 with a series of volatile carboxylic acids and esters

We report the results of a selected ion flow tube (SIFT) study of the reactions of H₃O⁺, NO⁺ and O⁺₂ with some nine carboxylic acids and eight esters. We assume that all the exothermic proton transfer reactions of H₃O⁺ with all the acid and esters molecules occur at the collisional rate, i.e. the rate coefficients, k, are equal to k_c; then it is seen that k values for most of the NO⁺ and O⁺₂ reactions also are equal to or close to k_c. The major ionic products of the H₃O⁺ reactions with both the acids and esters are the protonated parent molecules, MH⁺, but minor channels are also evident, these being the result of H₂O elimination from the excited (MH⁺)1 in some of the acid reactions and an alcohol molecule elimination (CH₃OH or C₂H₅OH) in some of the ester reactions. The NO⁺ reactions with the acids and esters result in both ion-molecule association producing NO⁺M in parallel with hydroxide ion (OH⁻) transfer with some of the acids, and parallel methoxide ion (CH₃O⁻) and ethoxide ion (C₂H₅O⁻) transfer as appropriate with some of the esters. The O⁺₂ reactions proceed by dissociative charge transfer with the production of two or more ionic fragments of the parent molecules, the different isomeric forms of both the acid and the ester molecules resulting in different product ions.     

Mechanistic Investigation of Catalyst‐Transfer Suzuki–Miyaura Condensation Polymerization of Thiophene–Pyridine Biaryl Monomers with the Aid of Model Reactions

We have investigated the requirements for efficient Pd‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura catalyst‐transfer condensation polymerization (Pd‐CTCP) reactions of 2‐alkoxypropyl‐6‐(5‐bromothiophen‐2‐yl)‐3‐(4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl)pyridine ( 12 ) as a donor–acceptor (D –A) biaryl monomer. As model reactions, we first carried out the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction of X–Py–Th–X′ (Th=thiophene, Py=pyridine, X, X′=Br or I) 1 with phenylboronic acid ester 2 by using tBu₃PPd⁰ as the catalyst. Monosubstitution with a phenyl group at Th‐I mainly took place in the reaction of Br–Py–Th–I ( 1 b ) with 2 , whereas disubstitution selectively occurred in the reaction of I–Py–Th–Br ( 1 c ) with 2 , indicating that the Pd catalyst is intramolecularly transferred from acceptor Py to donor Th. Therefore, we synthesized monomer 12 by introduction of a boronate moiety and bromine into Py and Th, respectively. However, examination of the relationship between monomer conversion and the M_n of the obtained polymer, as well as the matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectra, indicated that Suzuki–Miyaura coupling polymerization of 12 with (o‐tolyl)tBu₃PPdBr initiator 13 proceeded in a step‐growth polymerization manner through intermolecular transfer of the Pd catalyst. To understand the discrepancy between the model reactions and polymerization reaction, Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions of 1 c with thiopheneboronic acid ester instead of 2 were carried out. This resulted in a decrease of the disubstitution product. Therefore, step‐growth polymerization appears to be due to intermolecular transfer of the Pd catalyst from Th after reductive elimination of the Th‐Pd‐Py complex formed by transmetalation of polymer Th–Br with (Pin)B–Py–Th–Br monomer 12 (Pin=pinacol). Catalysts with similar stabilization energies of metal–arene η²‐coordination for D and A monomers may be needed for CTCP reactions of biaryl D–A monomers.     

Probing the Catalytic Activity of Reduced Graphene Oxide Decorated with Au Nanoparticles Triggered by Visible Light

Hybrid materials in which reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is decorated with Au nanoparticles (rGO–Au NPs) were obtained by the in situ reduction of GO and AuCl₄^?_(aq) by ascorbic acid. On laser excitation, rGO could be oxidized as a result of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) excitation in the Au NPs, which generates activated O₂ through the transfer of SPR‐excited hot electrons to O₂ molecules adsorbed from air. The SPR‐mediated catalytic oxidation of p‐aminothiophenol (PATP) to p,p′‐dimercaptoazobenzene (DMAB) was then employed as a model reaction to probe the effect of rGO as a support for Au NPs on their SPR‐mediated catalytic activities. The increased conversion of PATP to DMAB relative to individual Au NPs indicated that charge‐transfer processes from rGO to Au took place and contributed to improved SPR‐mediated activity. Since the transfer of electrons from Au to adsorbed O₂ molecules is the crucial step for PATP oxidation, in addition to the SPR‐excited hot electrons of Au NPs, the transfer of electrons from rGO to Au contributed to increasing the electron density of Au above the Fermi level and thus the Au‐to‐O₂ charge‐transfer process.     

Kinetics of graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto polychloroprene with tricaprylylmethylammonium chloride as a phase‐transfer catalyst

The phase‐transfer catalyzed graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto polychloroprene was carried out using tricaprylylmethylammonium chloride as a phase‐transfer catalyst in a two‐phase system of an aqueous Na₂S₂O₈ solution and toluene at 55 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere. The initial rate of graft copolymerization was expressed as the combined terms of quaternary onium cation and peroxydisulfate anion in the aqueous phase rather than the fed concentrations of catalyst and Na₂S₂O₈. The observed initial rate of graft copolymerization was used to analyze the graft copolymerization mechanism with a cycle phase‐transfer initiation step in the heterogeneous liquid–liquid system. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3543–3549, 2000     

Semiconductor/Covalent‐Organic‐Framework Z‐Scheme Heterojunctions for Artificial Photosynthesis

A strategy to covalently connect crystalline covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with semiconductors to create stable organic–inorganic Z‐scheme heterojunctions for artificial photosynthesis is presented. A series of COF–semiconductor Z‐scheme photocatalysts combining water‐oxidation semiconductors (TiO₂, Bi₂WO₆, and α‐Fe₂O₃) with CO₂ reduction COFs (COF‐316/318) was synthesized and exhibited high photocatalytic CO₂‐to‐CO conversion efficiencies (up to 69.67 μmol g^?1 h^?1), with H₂O as the electron donor in the gas–solid CO₂ reduction, without additional photosensitizers and sacrificial agents. This is the first report of covalently bonded COF/inorganic‐semiconductor systems utilizing the Z‐scheme applied for artificial photosynthesis. Experiments and calculations confirmed efficient semiconductor‐to‐COF electron transfer by covalent coupling, resulting in electron accumulation in the cyano/pyridine moieties of the COF for CO₂ reduction and holes in the semiconductor for H₂O oxidation, thus mimicking natural photosynthesis.     

Chemiluminescence of Electrochemically Oxidized 9‐(Phenylthiophosphoryloxymethylidene)‐10‐methylacridan Derivatives

The electrochemistry and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) properties of acridan phosphate ester are reported. Electrochemical oxidation of 9‐(phenylthiophosphoryloxymethylidene)‐10‐methylacridan disodium salt (Compound 1) yields the corresponding acridinium ester. The latter undergoes a fast reaction with hydrogen peroxide forming an intermediate, which produces electronically excited 9‐methyl acridone and emits blue light after relaxation to the ground state. The electrochemical oxidation of this compound appears to occur in two one‐electron steps and light emission is observed for both steps. The chemiluminescence reaction could also be triggered by electrochemical oxidation of Compound 1 in the absence of H₂O₂ when the solution was saturated with O₂. Mechanisms for these reactions based on ECL, voltammetry and in situ UV‐vis identification of the oxidation products are proposed. Due to the low electrode potential required to achieve ECL emission and the occurrence of light emission in the absence of hydrogen peroxide, this compound is proposed as a label for rapid and sensitive determination of biomolecules in automated analysis.     

Proton‐Coupled Electron Transfer of Unsaturated Fatty Acids and Mechanistic Insight into Lipoxygenase

A proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) process plays an important role in the initial step of lipoxygenases to produce lipid radicals which can be oxygenated by reaction with O₂ to yield the hydroperoxides stereoselectively. The EPR spectroscopic detection of free lipid radicals and the oxygenated radicals (peroxyl radicals) together with the analysis of the EPR spectra has revealed the origin of the stereo‐ and regiochemistry of the reaction between O₂ and linoleyl (= (2Z)‐10‐carboxy‐1‐[(1Z)‐hept‐1‐enyl]dec‐2‐enyl) radical in lipoxygenases. The direct determination of the absolute rates of H‐atom‐transfer reactions from a series of unsaturated fatty acids to the cumylperoxyl (= (1‐methyl‐1‐phenylethyl)dioxy) radical by use of time‐resolved EPR at low temperatures together with detailed kinetic investigations on both photoinduced and thermal electron‐transfer oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids provides the solid energetic basis for the postulated PCET process in lipoxygenases. A strong interaction between linoleic acid (= (9Z,12Z)‐octadeca‐9,12‐dienoic acid) and the reactive center of the lipoxygenases (Fe^III? OH) is suggested to be involved to make a PCET process to occur efficiently, when an inner‐sphere electron transfer from linoleic acid to the Fe^III state is strongly coupled with the proton transfer to the OH group.     

A Solid State Polymer‐Coated Electrode Containing a Chiral Crown Ether Derivative for Enantioselective Detection of Phenylglycine Methyl Ester Isomer

All solid‐state enantioselective electrode (ASESE) based on a newly synthesized chiral crown ether derivative ((R)‐(?)‐(3,3′‐diphenyl‐1,1′‐binaphthyl)‐23‐crown‐6 incorporating 1,4‐dimethoxybenzene) was prepared and characterized by potentiometry. The ASESE clearly showed enantiomer discrimination for methyl esters of alanine, leucine, valine, phenylalanine, and phenylglycine, where the enantioselectivity for phenylglycine methyl ester was the highest (K_R,S=8.5±7.1%). Experimental parameters of ASESE for the analysis of (R)‐(?)‐phenylglycine methyl ester were optimized. The optimized ASESE showed a slope of 55.3±0.2 mV/dec for (R)‐(?)‐phenylglycine methyl ester in the concentration range of 1.0×10^?5–1.0×10^?2 M and the detection limit was 9.0×10^?6 M. The ASESE showed good selectivity for (R)‐(?)‐phenylglycine methyl ester against inorganic cations and various amino acid methyl esters. The concentration of (R)‐(?)‐phenylglycine methyl ester was determined in the mixture of (R)‐(?) and (S)‐(+)‐phenylglycine methyl ester, which ratios varied from 2 : 1 to 1 : 9. The lifespan of the electrode was alleged to be 30 days.     

High‐Field Pulsed EPR Spectroscopy for the Speciation of the Reduced [PV2Mo10O40]6− Polyoxometalate Catalyst Used in Electron‐Transfer Oxidations

An in‐depth spectroscopic EPR investigation of a key intermediate, formally notated as [PV^IVV^VMo₁₀O₄₀]^6? and formed in known electron‐transfer and electron‐transfer/oxygen‐transfer reactions catalyzed by H₅PV₂Mo₁₀O₄₀, has been carried out. Pulsed EPR spectroscopy have been utilized: specifically, W‐band electron–electron double resonance (ELDOR)‐detected NMR and two‐dimensional (2D) hyperfine sub‐level correlation (HYSCORE) measurements, which resolved ⁹⁵Mo and ¹⁷O hyperfine interactions, and electron–nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), which gave the weak ⁵¹V and ³¹P interactions. In this way, two paramagnetic species related to [PV^IVV^VMo₁₀O₄₀]^6? were identified. The first species (30–35 %) has a vanadyl (VO²⁺)‐like EPR spectrum and is not situated within the polyoxometalate cluster. Here the VO²⁺ was suggested to be supported on the Keggin cluster and can be represented as an ion pair, [PV^VMo₁₀O₃₉]^8?[V^IVO²⁺]. This species originates from the parent H₅PV₂Mo₁₀O₄₀ in which the vanadium atoms are nearest neighbors and it is suggested that this isomer is more likely to be reactive in electron‐transfer/oxygen‐transfer reaction oxidation reactions. In the second (70–65 %) species, the V^IV remains embedded within the polyoxometalate framework and originates from reduction of distal H₅PV₂Mo₁₀O₄₀ isomers to yield an intact cluster, [PV^IVV^VMo₁₀O₄₀]^6?.     

Synthesis and NMR characteristics of N‐acetyl‐4‐nitro,N‐acetyl‐5‐nitro,N‐acetyl‐6‐nitro and N‐acetyl‐7‐nitrotryptophan methyl esters

N‐acetyl‐4‐nitrotryptophan methyl ester (2), N‐acetyl‐5‐nitrotryptophan methyl ester (3), N‐acetyl‐6‐nitrotryptophan methyl ester (4) and N‐acetyl‐7‐nitrotryptophan methyl ester (5) were synthesized through a modified malonic ester reaction of the appropriate nitrogramine analogs followed by methylation with BF₃‐methanol. Assignments of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts were made using a combination of ¹H–¹H COSY, ¹H–¹³C HETCOR and ¹H–¹³C selective INEPT experiments. Copyright © 2008 Crown in the right of Canada. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd     

Zero‐, one‐ and two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded structures in the 1:1 proton‐transfer compounds of 4,5‐dichlorophthalic acid with the monocyclic heteroaromatic Lewis bases 2‐aminopyrimidine,nicotinamide and isonicotinamide

The structures of the anhydrous 1:1 proton‐transfer compounds of 4,5‐dichlorophthalic acid (DCPA) with the monocyclic heteroaromatic Lewis bases 2‐aminopyrimidine, 3‐(aminocarbonyl)pyridine (nicotinamide) and 4‐(aminocarbonyl)pyridine (isonicotinamide), namely 2‐aminopyrimidinium 2‐carboxy‐4,5‐dichlorobenzoate, C₄H₆N₃⁺·C₈H₃Cl₂O₄⁻, (I), 3‐(aminocarbonyl)pyridinium 2‐carboxy‐4,5‐dichlorobenzoate, C₆H₇N₂O⁺·C₈H₃Cl₂O₄⁻, (II), and the unusual salt adduct 4‐(aminocarbonyl)pyridinium 2‐carboxy‐4,5‐dichlorobenzoate–methyl 2‐carboxy‐4,5‐dichlorobenzoate (1/1), C₆H₇N₂O⁺·C₈H₃Cl₂O₄⁻·C₉H₆Cl₂O₄, (III), have been determined at 130 K. Compound (I) forms discrete centrosymmetric hydrogen‐bonded cyclic bis(cation–anion) units having both R₂²(8) and R₁²(4) N—H...O interactions. In (II), the primary N—H...O‐linked cation–anion units are extended into a two‐dimensional sheet structure via amide–carboxyl and amide–carbonyl N—H...O interactions. The structure of (III) reveals the presence of an unusual and unexpected self‐synthesized methyl monoester of the acid as an adduct molecule, giving one‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded chains. In all three structures, the hydrogen phthalate anions are essentially planar with short intramolecular carboxyl–carboxylate O—H...O hydrogen bonds [O...O = 2.393 (8)–2.410 (2) Å]. This work provides examples of low‐dimensional 1:1 hydrogen‐bonded DCPA structure types, and includes the first example of a discrete cyclic `heterotetramer.' This low dimensionality in the structures of the 1:1 aromatic Lewis base salts of the parent acid is generally associated with the planar DCPA anion species.     

Direct Detection of the Superoxide Anion as a Stable Intermediate in the Electroreduction of Oxygen in a Non‐Aqueous Electrolyte Containing Phenol as a Proton Source

The non‐aqueous Li–air (O₂) battery has attracted intensive interest because it can potentially store far more energy than today′s batteries. Presently Li–O₂ batteries suffer from parasitic reactions owing to impurities, found in almost all non‐aqueous electrolytes. Impurities include residual protons and protic compounds that can react with oxygen species, such as the superoxide (O₂^?), a reactive, one‐electron reduction product of oxygen. To avoid the parasitic reactions, it is crucial to have a fundamental understanding of the conditions under which reactive oxygen species are generated in non‐aqueous electrolytes. Herein we report an in situ spectroscopic study of oxygen reduction on gold in a dimethyl sulfoxide electrolyte containing phenol as a proton source. It is shown directly that O₂^?, not HO₂, is the first stable intermediate during the oxygen reduction process to hydrogen peroxide. The unusual stability of O₂^? is explained using density functional theory (DFT) calculations.     

Synthesis of superparamagnetic and thermoresponsive hybrid nanoparticles via surface‐mediated RAFT polymerization of di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether acrylate and (oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate

A reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent was directly anchored onto superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (SPNPs) in a simple procedure using a ligand exchange reaction of 2‐[(dodecylsulfanylcarbonylthiolsulfanyl) propionic acid] (DCPA) with oleic acid initially present on the surface of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The DCPA‐modified SPNPs were then used for the surface‐mediated RAFT polymerization of di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether acrylate and (oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate to fabricate structurally well‐defined hybrid SPNPs with temperature‐responsive poly[di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether acrylate‐co‐(oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] shell and magnetic Fe₃O₄ core. Evidence of a well‐controlled surface‐mediated RAFT polymerization was gained from a linear increase of number‐average molecular weight with overall monomer conversions and relatively narrow polydispersity indices of the copolymers grown from the SPNPs. The resultant hybrid nanoparticles exhibited superparamagnetic property with a saturation magnetization of 55.1–19.4 emu/g and showed a temperature‐responsive phenomenon as the temperature changed between 25 and 40 ^°C. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3420–3428