The one-pot TiCl4 catalysed Diels-Alder/Mannich reaction of alpha-cyanoaminoacrylates with 2-silyloxy-1,4-butadienes gives 6-keto-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-1-carboxylates. Reduction of the ketone and alkylation of the resultant alcohol gives 6-alkoxy-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes mimicking the AE rings of a number of Delphinium and Aconitum alkaloids, with the same stereochemistry as the natural products. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.