Abstract The nitration of alkanes by using nitric acid as a nitrating agent in acetic acid was efficiently promoted by vanadium-substituted Keggin-type phosphomolybdates such as [H 4 PVMo 11 O 40],[H 5 PV 2 Mo 10 O 40], and [H 6 PV 3 Mo 9 O 40] as catalyst precursors. A variety of alkanes including alkylbenzenes were nitrated to the corresponding nitroalkanes as major products in moderate yields with formation of oxygenated products under mild ...