Treatment of chiral monoterpenes with different nitrile compounds in t
he presence of perchloric acid affords (1S,5R,8R) )-2,4,4,8-tetramethy
l-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]non-2-ene or the corresponding (1R,5S,8S) enantio
mer, The respective free imines yield optically pure piperidine deriva
tives when treated with reducing agents (NaBH4, NaCNBH3).