Regio-, stereo-, and chemoselectivering 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
photochemical thiol addition/aerobic oxidation cascade reaction has been developed. This protocol enables efficient oxidative coupling of epoxides and thiols to access structurally valuable β-hydroxylsulfoxides. A broad range of functional groups are compatible to obtain moderate to good yields of the target products. Mechanistic studies revealed a sequential reaction pathway involving base-promoted thiol addition