The oxidation of alkanes in air in an acetonitrile solution during irradiation with visible light in the presence of an anthraquinone-oxometallate system (where the oxometallate is (Bu(4)N)VO3, (Bu(4)N)(2)WO4 or (Bu(4)N)(2)Mo2O7), leading to the formation of alkylperoxides, ketones and alcohols, occurs at different rates and selectivities by comparison with photo-oxidation sensitized only by anthraquinone.