N-Sulfonyl-1, 2, 3-triazoles react with water in the presence of a rhodium catalyst to produce α-amino ketones in high yield. An intermediary α-imino rhodium (II) carbenoid undergoes insertion into the O–H bond of water. This transformation formally achieves 1, 2- aminohydroxylation of terminal alkynes in a regioselective fashion when combined with the copper (I)-catalyzed 1, 3-dipolar cycloaddition with N-sulfonyl azides.