Synthesis,structure, and antibacterial evaluation of new N‐substituted‐3‐amino‐ 5‐oxo‐4‐phenyl‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazole‐1‐carbothioamides

Novel N‐substituted‐3‐amino‐5‐oxo‐4‐phenyl‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazole‐1‐carbothioamide derivatives were synthesized by means of two methods. First is the cyclization reaction of 1‐(cyanophenyl)acetyl‐4‐substituted thiosemicarbazide, and the second one is reaction of cyanophenyl acetic acid hydrazide with isothiocyanate. Structures of new compounds were confirmed by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, and X‐ray diffraction analysis. Biological evaluation showed that some of them possess promising antibacterial activities. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 21:215–221, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20598     

1H{15N} GHMQC study of 5,7‐diphenyl‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine and 1H, 13C and 15N NMR coordination shifts in Au(III) chloride complexes of 1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines

The ¹H{¹⁵N} NMR spectrum of 5,7‐diphenyl‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐a]‐pyrimidine ( 3 ) was measured by GHMQC, unambiguously assigned and compared with the spectra of 1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine ( 1 ) and 5,7‐dimethyl‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine ( 2 ). A series of Au(III) chloride complexes of general formula AuLCl₃, where L = 1 , 2 , 3 , was synthesized and studied by ¹HH{¹⁵N} GHMQC and ¹H{¹³C} GHMBC. Low‐frequency shifts of 72–74 ppm (¹⁵N) and 5–6 ppm (¹³C) were observed upon complexation by Au(III) ions for the coordination site N‐3 and adjacent C‐2, C‐3a atoms, respectively. The ¹³C signals of C‐5, C‐6, C‐7 and the ¹H resonances of H‐2, H‐6 were shifted to higher frequency. Comparison with analogous Pd(II), Pt(II) and Pt(IV) complexes revealed that in the case of Au(III) coordination the ¹⁵N shifts were relatively smaller, whereas those for ¹³C and ¹H were larger. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stereoselective synthesis and biological activities of O‐(E)‐1‐{1‐[(6‐chloropyridin‐3‐yl)methyl]‐5‐methyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl}ethyleneamino‐O‐ethyl‐O‐arylphosphorothioates

To find novel lead compounds having high insecticidal activity, a series of phosphorothioate derivatives containing 1,2,3‐triazole and pyridine rings were synthesized by the reaction of 1‐{1‐[(6‐chloropyridin‐3‐yl)methyl]‐5‐methyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl}ethanone oxime with phosphorochloridothioates. Their structures were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analyses. The structure of 6c was determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction, which is thermodynamically stable E isomer. The results of preliminary bioassay indicate that some title compounds possess insecticidal activity to some extent. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 19:15–20, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20367     

Synthesis of [1,2‐a] benzimidazolo‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐thione, [1,2‐a] benzimidazolo‐1,3,5‐thiadiazin‐2‐thione, [1,2‐a] benzimidazolo‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐amine,and [1,2‐a] benzimidazol‐2‐yl amidrazone

N‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl imidate type 1 reacts with thiourea, carbon disulfide, cyanamide, and hydrazide to give, respectively, [1,2‐a] benzimidazolo‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐thione 2 , [1,2‐a] benzimidazolo‐1,3,5‐thiadiazin‐2‐thione 3 , [1,2‐a] benzimidazolo‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐amine 4 , and [1,2‐a] benzimidazol‐2‐yl amidrazone 5 with good yields. Structures elucidation of all newly synthesized heterocyclic compounds was based on the data of IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, elemental analysis, and MS of some products. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 21:279–283, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20618     

Ru–η6‐benzene–phosphine complex‐catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of ketones

Three Ru–η⁶‐benzene–phosphine complexes bearing tri‐(p‐methoxyphenyl)phosphine, triphenylphosphine and tri‐(p‐trifluoromethylphenyl)phosphine were synthesized and characterized by ³¹P{¹H} NMR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C{¹H} NMR and elemental analyses. Complex 1 was further identified by X‐ray crystallography. These complexes exhibit good to excellent activities for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones in refluxing 2‐propanol, and the highest turnover frequency (TOF) is up to 5940 h⁻¹. The effect of electronic factors of these complexes on the transfer hydrogenation of ketones reveals that the catalytic activity is promoted by electron‐donating phosphine and the catalyst stability is improved by electron‐withdrawing phosphine. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

One‐ and two‐dimensional NMR characterization of N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate copolymers

N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate (V/M) copolymers were prepared by free‐radical bulk polymerization using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The copolymer composition of these copolymers was calculated from ¹H NMR spectra. The radical reactivity ratios for N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (V) and methyl acrylate (M) were r_V = 0.09, r_M = 0.44. These reactivity ratios for the copolymerization of V and M were determined using the Kelen–Tudos and nonlinear least‐squares error‐in‐variable methods. The ¹³C{¹H} and ¹H NMR spectra of these copolymers overlapped and were complex. The complete spectral assignment of the ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra were done with distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer and two dimensional ¹³C‐¹H heteronuclear single quantum correlation spectroscopic experiments. The two‐dimensional ¹H‐¹H homonuclear total correlation spectroscopic NMR spectrum showed the various bond interactions, thus inferring the possible structure of the copolymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2225–2236, 2002     

One‐ and two‐dimensional NMR characterization of N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate copolymers

N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate (V/M) copolymers were prepared by free‐radical bulk polymerization using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The copolymer composition of these copolymers was calculated from ¹H NMR spectra. The radical reactivity ratios for N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (V) and methyl acrylate (M) were r_V = 0.09, r_M = 0.44. These reactivity ratios for the copolymerization of V and M were determined using the Kelen–Tudos and nonlinear least‐squares error‐in‐variable methods. The ¹³C{¹H} and ¹H NMR spectra of these copolymers overlapped and were complex. The complete spectral assignment of the ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra were done with distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer and two dimensional ¹³C‐¹H heteronuclear single quantum correlation spectroscopic experiments. The two‐dimensional ¹H‐¹H homonuclear total correlation spectroscopic NMR spectrum showed the various bond interactions, thus inferring the possible structure of the copolymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2225–2236, 2002     

Synthesis,structure and biological activity of new 6,6‐dimethyl‐2‐oxo‐4‐{2‐[5‐organylsilyl(germyl)]furan(thiophen)‐2‐yl}vinyl‐5,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐3‐carbonitriles

New 6,6‐dimethyl‐2‐oxo‐4‐{2‐[5‐alkylsilyl(germyl)]furan(thiophen)‐2‐yl}vinyl‐5,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐3‐carbonitriles (IC₅₀: 1–6 µg ml^?1) have been prepared by the condensation of corresponding silicon‐ and germanium‐containing furyl(thienyl)‐2‐carbaldehydes with 3‐cyano‐4,6,6‐trimethyl‐5,6‐dihydropyran‐2‐one using piperidine acetate as a catalyst. The obtained carbonitriles were identified using NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ²⁹Si) spectroscopy and GC‐MS. The structure of 6,6‐dimethyl‐2‐oxo‐4‐[2‐(5‐trimethylsilyl)thiophen‐2‐yl]‐5,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐3‐carbonitrile was studied using X‐ray diffractometry. The influences of the heterocycle and the structure of the organoelement substituent on cytotoxicity and on matrix metalloproteinase inhibition have been studied. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of Novel Fluorescent 2‐{4‐[1‐(Pyridine‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐3‐yl] phenyl}‐2H‐naphtho [1,2‐d] [1,2,3] triazolyl Derivatives and Evaluation of Their Thermal and Photophysical Properties

Novel 2‐{4‐[1‐(pyridine‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐3‐yl] phenyl}‐2H‐naphtho [1,2‐d] [1,2,3] triazolyl fluorescent derivatives were synthesized from p‐nitrophenylacetic acid and 2‐hydrazino pyridine through Vilsmeier–Haack and diazotization reactions. Photophysical properties were evaluated, and results show that compounds have good fluorescence quantum yields. Thermal analysis showed that they are reasonably stable. The structures of the compounds were confirmed by FT‐IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectral and elemental analysis.     

Low‐temperature sol–gel transformation of methyl silicon precursors to silica‐based hybrid materials

Six new methyl silicon (IV) precursors of the type [MeSi{ON?C(R)Ar}₃] [when R = Me, Ar = 2‐C₅H₄N ( 1 ), 2‐C₄H₃O ( 2 ) or 2‐C₄H₃S ( 3 ); and when R = H, Ar = 2‐C₅H₄N ( 4 ), 2‐C₄H₃O ( 5 ) or 2‐C₄H₃S ( 6 )] were prepared and structurally characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. Molecular weight measurements and FAB (Fast Atomic Bombardment) mass spectral studies indicated their monomeric nature. ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectral studies suggested the oximate ligands to be monodentate in solution, which was confirmed by ²⁹Si{¹H} NMR signals in the region expected for tetra‐coordinated methylsilicon (IV) derivatives. Thermogravimetric analysis of 1 revealed the complex to be thermally labile, decomposing to a hybrid material of definite composition. Two representative compounds ( 2 and 4 ) were studied as single source molecular precursor for low‐temperature transformation to silica‐based hybrid materials using sol–gel technique. Formation of homogenous methyl‐bonded silica materials (MeSiO_3/2) at low sintering temperature was observed. The thermogravimetric analysis of the methylsilica material indicated that silicon‐methyl bond is thermally stable up to a temperature of 400 °C. Reaction of 2 and Al(OPrⁱ)₃ in equimolar ratio in anhydrous toluene yielded a brown‐colored viscous liquid of the composition [MeSi{ON?C(CH₃)C₄H₃O}₃.Al(OPrⁱ)₃]. Spectroscopic techniques ¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, ²⁷Al{¹H} and ²⁹Si{¹H} NMR spectra of the viscous product indicated the presence of tetracoordination around both silicon and aluminum atoms. On hydrolysis it yielded methylated aluminosilicate material with high specific surface area (464 m²/g). Scanning electron micrography confirmed a regular porous structure with porosity in the nanometric range. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An experimental and theoretical approach to the molecular structure of 3‐{[4‐(3‐Methyl‐3‐phenyl‐cyclobutyl)‐thiazol‐2‐yl]‐hydrazono}‐1,3‐dihydro‐ indol‐2‐one

The title molecule, 3‐{[4‐(3‐methyl‐3‐phenyl‐cyclobutyl)‐thiazol‐2‐yl]‐hydrazono}‐1,3‐dihydro‐indol‐2‐one (C₂₂H₂₀N₄O₁S₁), was prepared and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, UV–visible, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21 with a = 8.3401(5), b = 5.6976(3), c = 20.8155(14) Å, and β = 95.144(5)°. Molecular geometry from X‐ray experiment and vibrational frequencies of the title compound in the ground state has been calculated using the Hartree–Fock with 6‐31G(d, p) and density functional method (B3LYP) with 6‐31G(d, p) and 6‐311G(d, p) basis sets, and compared with the experimental data. The calculated results show that optimized geometries can well reproduce the crystal structural parameters, and the theoretical vibrational frequencies values show good agreement with experimental data. Density functional theory calculations of the title compound and thermodynamic properties were performed at B3LYP/6‐31G(d, p) level of theory. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Stereoselective synthesis and antioxidant activity of azabicycloadducts derived from 9,10‐phenanthrenequinone

A facile synthesis of sprio{1‐aza‐bicyclo‐[3,3,0]‐6‐octene‐8,1′ ‐phenanthrene}‐2′‐ones has been accomplished by [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylide (amy) generated from 9,10‐phenanthrenequinone and different secondary cyclic amino acids, namely, thiazolidine‐4‐carboxylic acid, L‐pyrrolidine‐2‐carboxylic acid (L‐proline), and piperidine‐2‐carboxylic acid (pipecolinic acid) with electron‐deficient dipolarophiles in 67%–79% yield. AM1 calculations have been performed to understand the stereochemical course of the cycloaddition. The products have been characterized by elemental analyses and spectroscopic techniques, namely IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies as well as mass spectrometry. Some of the synthesized cycloadducts showed moderate antioxidant activity. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 20:379–392, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20562     

Synthesis and characterization of functional polysilanes [RMe2Si(CH2)x(Me)Si]n (R = 2‐Fu, 5‐Me‐2‐Fu, 2‐Th, 4‐Me‐2‐Th; x = 2, 3) with appended furyl/thienyl groups on the carbosilyl side chains and their application in the generation and stabilization of palladium nanoparticles

The polysilanes [RMe₂Si(CH₂)_x(Me)Si]_n [x = 2, 3; R = 2‐Fu ( 1, 2 ), 5‐Me‐2‐Fu ( 3, 4 )] bearing furyl‐substituted carbosilyl side chains have been synthesized by dehalocondensation reaction (Wurtz coupling) of the corresponding carbosilanes using sodium dispersion in refluxing toluene. On the other hand, analogous polysilanes with appended thienyl groups [x = 2, 3; R = 2‐Th ( 5, 6 ), 4‐Me‐2‐Th ( 7, 8 )] are only accessible by the reaction of the corresponding carbosilane precursors under mild Wurtz coupling conditions (THF, RT). These polysilanes reveal monomodal molecular weight distribution with M_w/PDI = 3.3–5.4 × 10⁴/1.22–1.47 ( 1–4 ) and 9.1–14.4 × 10⁴/1.45–1.61 ( 5–8 ) and are characterized by FT‐IR, multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, ²⁹Si{¹H}) NMR, and UV/PL spectral studies as well as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Preliminary studies on the reactivity of polysilane 2 with palladium acetate (toluene, RT) reveal the formation of spherical palladium nanoparticles of size 8.2 ± 0.6 nm, which remain stable in solution for several weeks. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7816–7826, 2008     

First Synthesis of Double Headed 1,2,4‐Triazino[5,6‐b]indole Acyclo C‐Nucleosides

Heterocyclization of bis(2‐oxo‐indol‐3‐ylidene)‐galactaric acid hydrazide ( 3 ) with a variety of one‐nitrogen cyclizing agents gave the corresponding 1,4‐bis{1,2,4‐triazino[5,6‐b]indol‐3‐yl}‐galacto‐tetritols 4–8 . Acetylation of the latter double headed acyclo C‐nucleosides with acetic anhydride in the presence of pyridine at ambient temperature resulted in N‐ and O‐acetylation to give the corresponding 1,2,3,4‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐1,4‐bis{1,2,4‐triazino[5,6‐b]indol‐3‐yl}‐galacto‐tetritols 9–13 which were found to exist in centro‐symmetric zigzag conformations 20 . The assigned structures were corroborated by ¹H, ¹³C NMR as well as mass spectra.     

Study of reaction between activated acetylenes and N,N′‐diethyl‐2‐thiobarbituric acid in the presence of isocyanides or triphenylphosphine

In a series of separate experiments reaction between N,N′‐diethyl‐2‐thiobarbituric acid and acetylenic diesters in the presence of isocyanides or triphenylphosphine led to highly functionalized 4H‐pyrano[2,3‐d]thiopyrimidine or 1,4‐di‐ionic organophosphorus derivatives. The ¹H NMR spectra of diethyl‐7‐(2,6‐dimethylphenylamino)‐4‐oxo‐2‐thio‐ 1,3‐diethyl‐4H‐pyrano[2,3‐d]pyrimidine‐5,6‐dicarboxylate showed dynamic NMR effect that was attributed to restricted rotation around the aryl‐nitrogen single bond. Activation free energy (ΔG^≠) for this process is about 54.85 ± 2 kJ mol⁻¹. Betaines as 1,4‐diionic organophosphorus compounds in this reaction are possessed of two vicinal stereogenic centers and exist in the solution as a mixture of two diastereoisomers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 21:228–235, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20601     

N‐substituted bis(tetrazol‐5‐yl)diazenes: Synthesis,spectra, X‐ray molecular and crystal structures,and quantum‐chemical DFT calculations

N‐Substituted bis(tetrazol‐5‐yl)diazenes (substituents are 1‐CH₃ ( 3a ), 1‐Ph ( 3b ), 2‐CH₃ ( 3c ), and 2‐^tBu ( 3d )) were synthesized by oxidative coupling of corresponding 5‐aminotetrazoles. All compounds were characterized with ¹H and ¹³C NMR, IR‐ and UV‐spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. Crystal and molecular structures of bis(1‐phenyltetra‐ zol‐5‐yl)diazene ( 3b ) and bis(2‐tert‐butyltetrazol‐5‐yl)diazene ( 3d ) were determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. Molecules of these compounds are trans‐isomers in solid. According to X‐Ray data, 3b molecule is S‐trans‐S‐trans conformer, however 3d is S‐cis‐S‐cis one. Quantum‐chemical investigation of geometry and relative stability of cis‐ and trans‐isomers and stable conformations of compounds 3a–d was carried out. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 21:24–35, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20574     

Chirale 1,3,2‐Oxazaborolidine aus chiralen 2,3‐Dihydro‐1H‐1,3,2‐diazaborolen und Diphenylketen

Chiral 1,3,2‐Oxazaborolidines from the Reaction of Chiral 2,3‐Dihydro‐1H‐1,3,2‐diazaboroles and Diphenylketene Reaction of equimolar amounts of diphenylketene with 1,3‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2‐isobutyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,3,2‐diazaborole ( 1 ) regioselectively afforded 1,3,2‐oxazaborolidine ( 2 ). The employment of a series of chiral diazaboroles ( 3a : X = nBu; b: iBu; c: CH₂SiMe₃; d: NHtBu) led to the formation of the diastereoisomeric oxazaborolidines ( 4a – d ) with diastereomeric excesses de, which increase with the steric demand of X from de = 55 % (X = nBu) to de ≥ 95 % (X = NHtBu). Under comparable conditions the treatment of the enantiomerically pure diazaborole ( 6 ) with the ketene yielded oxazaborolidine ( 7 ) with a de‐value of only 52 %. The new compounds, with exception of 2 and 4d , are thermolabile solids, which were characterized mainly by spectroscopy (¹H‐, ¹¹B{¹H}‐, ¹³C{¹H}‐NMR, MS). The X‐ray structure analysis of 2 revealed a slightly puckered five‐membered heterocycle with a long B–O bond.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and X‐ray Structures of Ru3(CO)9(dotpm)(L) Complexes [L = PPh3, P(C6H4Cl‐p)3, and PPh2(C6H4Br‐p)]

The reaction of Ru₃(CO)₁₀(dotpm) ( 1 ) [dotpm = (bis(di‐ortho‐tolylphosphanyl)methane)] and one equivalent of L [L = PPh₃, P(C₆H₄Cl‐p)₃ and PPh₂(C₆H₄Br‐p)] in refluxing n‐hexane afforded a series of derivatives [Ru₃(CO)₉(dotpm)L] ( 2 – 4 ), respectively, in ca. 67–70 % yield. Complexes 2 – 4 were characterized by elemental analysis (CHN), IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C{¹H} NMR and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of 2 , 3 , and 4 were established by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The bidentate dotpm and monodentate phosphine ligands occupy equatorial positions with respect to the Ru triangle. The effect of substitution resulted in significant differences in the Ru–Ru and Ru–P bond lengths.     

Synthesis and spectral characterization of N‐[2‐(4‐halophenoxy)‐3‐(3‐chlorophenyl)‐3, 4‐dihydro‐2H‐1,3,2‐λ5‐benzoxazaphosphinin‐2‐yliden]‐N‐substituted amines by the Staudinger reaction

The synthesis of the title compounds was accomplished in four steps. The synthetic route involves the preparation of Schiff's base by reacting salicylaldehyde with m‐chloroaniline in EtOH. The Schiff's base was then reduced with NaBH₄/MeOH. In the second step, PCl₃ was reacted with p‐chlorophenol/p‐bromophenol in THF in the presence of Et₃N to obtain P(III) dichloride derivatives. The reduced Schiff's base and dichloride derivatives were reacted in equimolar quantities in the presence of Et₃N in THF to get the cyclized product. Alkyl azides were prepared by reacting alkyl bromides with sodium azide, and then alkyl azides were treated with the cyclized product to obtain the title compounds. The structure of these novel compounds was elucidated by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR, and mass spectroscopy. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 21:499–504, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.20639     

Nitroxide‐mediated radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate controlled with a minimal amount of 9‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐9H‐carbazole

The controlled nitroxide‐mediated homopolymerization of 9‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐9H‐carbazole (VBK) and the copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with varying amounts of VBK were accomplished by using 10 mol % {tert‐butyl[1‐(diethoxyphosphoryl)‐2,2‐dimethylpropyl]amino} nitroxide relative to 2‐({tert‐butyl[1‐(diethoxyphosphoryl)‐2,2‐dimethylpropyl]amino}oxy)‐2‐methylpropionic acid (BlocBuilder?) in dimethylformamide at temperatures from 80 to 125 °C. As little as 1 mol % of VBK in the feed was required to obtain a controlled copolymerization of an MMA/VBK mixture, resulting in a linear increase in molecular weight versus conversion with a narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w /M_n ≈ 1.3). Preferential incorporation of VBK into the copolymer was indicated by the MMA/VBK reactivity ratios determined: r_VBK = 2.7 ± 1.5 and r_MMA = 0.24 ± 0.14. The copolymers were found significantly “living” by performing subsequent chain extensions with a fresh batch of VBK and by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy analysis. VBK was found to be an effective controlling comonomer for NMP of MMA, and such low levels of VBK comonomer ensured transparency in the final copolymer. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011