The ratio of diastereomers obtained from chiral thiols 2 was shown to be time-dependent both in thioacetal formation with lactol 1 (diastereomers 3/4) and in 1,4-addition to nitro-styrene 5 (diastereomers 6/7, 8/9). An interpretation based on stereoelectronic effects is presented to explain the similarity of the reaction pathways in both reactions.