Piperidine alkaloids are found in both animal and vegetal kingdoms. In this work, we have developed the synthesis and the utilization of several -aminonitrile systems which have been prepared either from the reduction of chiral non racemic pyridinium salts or from the anodic cyanation of piperidine ring system. In the first case, the modification of the Fry cyanation allowed the synthesis of both enantiomers of coniine which is the toxic component of hemlock (conium maculatum). By virtue of the Beak's lithiation–alkylation procedure, we have been able to synthesize the trans 2,6-piperidine (+)-solenopsin A which is one of the constituents of the venom of fire ant solenopsis invicta. As an alternative process, the anodic cyanation of piperid...