Facile room-temperature MgBr2•OEt2-catalyzed thiolysis of epoxides under solvent-free conditions

Solvent-free ring opening of 1,2-epoxides with aromatic and aliphatic thiols under 1 mol% magnesium bromide ethyl etherate catalysis affords rapid formation of beta-hydroxy sulfides at ambient temperature with excellent yields. Nucleophilic attack of the thiols occurs regioselectively at the less hindered position of the epoxides.