A simple, efficient, stereoselective, and in some cases usefully non-regioselective method for the synthesis of beta-azido alcohols by the direct opening of 1,2-epoxides with 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidinium azide (TMGA) in CH3CN, catalyzed by simple transition metal-based salts [Hf(OTf)(4), Zr(OTf)(4), Yb(OTf)(3)], is described. Also TMSN(3) may be used in some reactions as a source of N-3(-). This new method appears to be competitive with other methods previously reported.