A catalytic highly enantioselective (99% ee) preparation of N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-(2S, 3S)- 3-hydroxy-2-phenyl-piperidine and N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-(2S)-2-phenyl-piperidin-3-one was developed using an intramolecular epoxide opening followed by ring expansion. The cis-epoxide starting material was available in high ee via Jacobsen epoxidation.