A highly anti-diastereoselective three-component Mannich reaction of aromatic amines and aromatic aldehydes with cyclohexanone in the presence of silica-supported ferric hydrogensulfate has been developed. The best selectivity was obtained where there were electron-donating groups on both aldehyde and amine. Selectivity decreases when electron-withdrawing groups are present on the aldehyde; in these cases selectivity is improved if an electron-donating group is present on the amine.