A convenient method for the stereoselective synthesis of cyclic β-amino esters from an iodo αβ-unsaturated ester and α-methylbenzylamine is described. Subsequent enolate generation and alkylation proceeds with complete stereocontrol, with the two stereogenic centres working together. In this way, a functionalised piperidine suitable for alkaloid natural product synthesis was prepared. The usefulness of the methodology is exemplified with the concise synthesis of a (−)-sparteine surrogate.