A new method for the stereoselective synthesis of 3-aminoindan-1-ones from triflates of salicylic sulfinyl imines and ethylene glycol vinylether has been developed. The reaction sequence starts with a regioselective Heck reaction followed by stereoselective Lewis acid mediated annulation. Acidic cleavage of the sulfinamides produced pure (R)- and (S)-3-aminoindan-1-ones, which were successfully isolated