The sulfur linkage of β‐(1→4)‐thiodisaccharides was constructed with excellent diastereoselectivity by Michael addition of 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐1‐thio‐β‐D‐galactose (2) or its β‐D‐glucose isomer (3) to sugar‐derived (2S, 6S)‐6‐acetoxymethyl‐2‐(2‐propyloxy)‐2H‐pyran‐3(6H)‐one (1). These reactions led to the per‐O‐acetyl glycosides of 3‐deoxy‐4‐S‐glycopyranosyl‐4‐thiohexopyranosid‐2‐ulose (4 and 5, respectively). Similar conjugated addition to the enone 1 of the isothiouronium salts 6 or 7, precursors in the synthesis of 2 or 3, also afforded the thiodisaccharides 4 or 5, respectively, with exclusive formation of the isomer that has an R configuration for the C‐4 stereocenter of the reducing‐end. The carbonyl function of 4 and 5 was reduced, and the resulting products were O‐deacetylated to give the free 4‐S(1→4)‐thiodisaccharides 10, 11, 14, and 15, which have a deoxy functionality adjacent to the thio group. These compounds were tested as inhibitors of glycoside hydrolases. Thus 11, the 3‐deoxy‐4‐thiomimetic of Galβ(1→4)Gal, proved to be a competitive inhibitor of the β‐galactosidase from E. coli (Ki = 0.16 mM). (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)