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Abstract As the field of theranostics expands, an imminent need arises for multifaceted polymer‐based nanotechnologies for clinical application. In this work, reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) aqueous emulsion polymerization is used to form¹⁹F‐containing amphiphilic hybrid block copolymers (HBCs). Employing a cationic dendritic macromolecular chain transfer agent (mCTA), polymer frameworks comprised of chemically distinctive blocks of differing architectures (i.e., dendritic and grafted/linear) are strategically designed and synthesized. In aqueous media, self‐assembled polymer nanoparticles (PNPs) are formed. Their physicochemical properties and their potential as biomaterials for MRI applications are assessed. By showcasing a newly established mCTA and using these resulting PNPs as imaging probes, the work expands the design space of RAFT polymerization in biomedical research, paving the way for the development of more effective and versatile MRI imaging tools. 

We report a first-in-class responsive, pentafluorosulfanyl (–SF 5 )-tagged 19 F MRI agent capable of reversibly detecting reducing environments via an Fe II/III redox couple. In the Fe III form, the agent displays no 19 F MR signal due to paramagnetic relaxation enhancement-induced signal broadening; however, upon rapid reduction to Fe II with one equivalent of cysteine, the agent displays a robust 19 F signal. Successive oxidation and reduction studies validate the reversibility of the agent. The –SF 5 tag in this agent enables ‘multicolor imaging’ in conjunction with sensors containing alternative fluorinated tags and this was demonstrated via simultaneous monitoring of the 19 F MR signal of this –SF 5 agent and a hypoxia-responsive agent containing a –CF 3 group. 

Aminoboration of simple alkenes with nitrogen nucleophiles remains an unsolved problem in synthetic chemistry; this transformation can be catalyzed by palladium via aminopalladation followed by transmetalation with a diboron reagent. However, this catalytic process faces inherent challenges with instability of the alkylpalladium(II) intermediate toward β-hydride elimination. Herein, we report a palladium/iron cocatalyzed aminoboration, which enables this transformation. We demonstrate these conditions on a variety of alkenes and norbornenes with an array of common nitrogen nucleophiles. In the developed strategy, the iron cocatalyst is crucial to achieving the desired reactivity by serving as a halophilic Lewis acid to release the transmetalation-active cationic alkylpalladium intermediate. Furthermore, it serves as a redox shuttle in the regeneration of the Pd(II) catalyst by reactivation of nanoparticulate palladium.