Alkanes to nitriles and α-iminoesters. Polyoxotungstate photocatalytic radical chain initiation

Abstract

Irradiation of W₁₀O₃₂^4– or PW₁₂O₄₀^3–, alkanes and methyl cyanoformate in CH₃CN solution produces either the corresponding nitriles or α-iminoesters with high selectivity, depending on the temperature, via a mechanism involving two roles for the polyoxotungstate.