The first asymmetric synthesis of dendrobatid indolizidine alkaloids (-)-209I [(5R,8R,8aS)-1a] and (-)-223J [(5R,8R,8aS)-1b] via a common late-stage intermediate amino nitrile (5R,8R,8aS)-2 are described. Amino nitrile 2 was synthesized employing the highly diastereoselective 1,2-addition of an organocerium reagent to a-substituted aldehyde RAMP-hydrazone (R,R)-9, which was in turn prepared in two steps starting from n-pentanal. The hydrazine obtained in this way was converted to pyrrolidine (R,S)-13, from which amino nitrile (5R,8R,8aS)-2 was obtained. Indolizidines (-)-209I and (-)-223J (de = 96 -99%, ee > 99%) and their C-5 epimers (5S,8R,8aS)-1a, b were prepared from 2 by alkylation/stereoselective reduction and stereoselective Bruylants reaction, respectively.