Anew recyclable polymeric V(V) salen complex 1 derived from poly[(R,R)-N,N'-bis-beta 3-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-5-methylene salicylidenel cyclohexane 1,2-diamine] with vanadyl sulphate was synthesized and characterized by microanalysis, H-1 NMR, optical rotation, IR, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The complex 1 was used as catalyst for asymmetric O-acetyl cyanation of various aldehydes with KCN as an inexpensive and non-volatile cyanide source and acetic anhydride at -20 degrees C. High chiral induction (ee, 96%) for O-acetylcyanohydrin was obtained in the case of 2-methylbenzaldehyde with added advantage of catalyst recyclability. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.