The significant progress made in the area of transition metal-catalyzed nitrene transfer into C-H or C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bonds mediated by iodine(iii) oxidants has been translated into many elegant synthetic applications. This feature article summarizes the main total syntheses that take advantage of such reactions, thereby highlighting that catalytic C(sp3)-H amination and alkene aziridination reactions have carved out their place in the organic chemist's toolbox.