An efficient synthesis of a series of quinolyl-substituted ketones or ketone precursors via the Heck reaction of 6- or 8-quinolyl nonaflates with an appropriate selection of olefins is presented. These ketones are useful building blocks for the diastereoselective construction of azapolycycles via SmI2-induced intramolecular cyclization of (het)aryl-substituted ketones.