The first synthetic route to 8-aryl-2-azabicyclo-[3.3.1]nonan-7-ones (e.g. 5) is reported. The synthesis involves acid cyclization of an appropriate 4-acetonyl-2-piperidinecarbonitrile (4) which, in turn, is obtained from the corresponding piperidine (3) by a modified Polonovski reaction. The o-nitrophenyl substituent of 3 is introduced by arylation of 4-piperidineacetoacetate 1 with o-fluoronitrobenzene