SiCl4 is an efficient and selective catalyst for the vinylogous Mannich reaction of linear and cyclic synthetic equivalents of acetoacetate dianion, leading to delta-amino-beta-ketoesters in moderate to high yields and complete gamma-selectivity; anti-diastereoselectivity was observed by using a gamma-methyl-substituted cyclic silyloxydiene. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.