The first oxidativecoupling of alkylnitriles with aromatic carboxylicacids using di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP) as oxidant was achieved under the catalysis of ionic Fe(III) complexes bearing an imidazolinium cation. This protocol features nontoxic iron catalysis, direct α-C(sp3)–H bond oxidative esterification of alkylnitriles, non-prefunctionalized starting materials, and a broad substrate scope