Regio-, stereo-, and chemoselective ring opening of epoxides with thiols using Cu/MgO as a heterogeneous catalyst has efficiently been carried out to produce the corresponding β- hydroxy sulfides in excellent yields at room temperature under solvent-free conditions. The treatment of the epoxides with thiols and 50% aqueous H2O2 in the presence of the same catalyst at room temperature affords the β-hydroxy sulfoxides in excellent yields.
