Autoinductive conversion of α,α-diiodonitroalkanes to amides and esters catalysed by iodine byproducts under O2

Studies to convert nitroalkanes into amides and esters using I-2 and O-2 revealed in situ-generated iodine species facilitate the homolytic C-I bond cleavage of ,-diiodonitroalkanes, arguably in an autoinductive or autocatalytic manner. Consequently, we devised a rapid and economical I-2/O-2-based method to synthesise sterically hindered esters directly from primary nitroalkanes.