An organoiron approach toward the synthesis of an elaborated tricyclic spiro-oxaquinolizidinone ring has been accomplished. The key intermediate was efficiently prepared through a nitrile addition to the appropriately functionalized cyclohexadienylium-Fe(CO)(3) perchlorate salt to install the requisite quaternary center in the spiro-oxaquinolizidinone ring. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.