Enantiomerically pure trans-(3R,4R)-4-aminopiperidin-3-ols, which are convenient precursors for making natural and synthetic aminohydroxylated piperidine alkaloid analogs, were efficiently synthesized through the reaction of enantiomerically pure (3R,4S)-3,4-epoxypiperidine with amines in the presence of LiClO 4 in CH 3 CN at room temperature. The absolute stereochemistry of the resultant amino alcohols was determined by the stereochemical correlation method and single-crystal X-ray analysis.