A tethered imine–enamine methodology has been developed for the direct conversion of 1,2,4-triazines into highly substituted pyridines via the inverse electron demand Diels–Alder reaction which avoids the need for a discrete aromatisation step. This TIE methodology has also been applied in one pot reaction cascades involving 1,2,4-triazines and utilising MnO₂-mediated tandem oxidation processes (TOPs).