Octahedra-based molecular sieve aluminoborate (PKU-1) as solid acid for heterogeneously catalyzed Strecker reaction

•Heterogeneously catalyzed Strecker reaction between imine and TMSCN•Octahedral framework molecular sieve (PKU-1) used as solid acid catalyst•Specific Lewis and Brønsted acid sites provided in the backbone of aluminoborate (PKU-1)•Borates hydroxyl groups act as critical active centers.

An aluminoborate (PKU-1) with octahedron-based framework was found to be a highly efficient solid acid catalyst for the rapid and convenient synthesis of α-aminonitriles from imines and TMSCN under mild reaction conditions. The catalytic active sites are related to the borate hydroxyl groups in the 18-ring structural channels. The borate hydroxyl groups play a critical role as Brønsted acid to protonate imine and activate TMSCN, thus providing the imine intermediate and producing CN anions, respectively.