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

Irradiation of W10O324– or PW12O403–, 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.