Optically active 4,benzo [1,2,3]trithiole 5-oxide (3) and 4,9-diethyl[1,4]dithiino [5,6-f]benzo [1,2,3]trithiole 5, 8-dioxide (4) were obtained by the asymmetric oxidation of 6,11-diethyl[1,4]dithiino [5,6-h]benzo-[1,2,3,4,5]pentathiepin (1). The reaction was accompanied by desulfurization and ring-contraction reactions of the pentathiepin ring. Similarly, optically active 4,3]dithiolo [4,5-f]benzo-[1,2,3]trithiole 5-oxide (7) was produced by the analogous asymmetric oxidation of 6,10-diethyl-[1,3]dithiolo [4,5-h]benzo [1,2,3,4,5]
pentathiepin (2).The specific rotations of 3, 4, and 7 were measured in chloroform, and their optical purity was verified by 1 H NMR with a shift reagent [Eu(hfc) 3 ]. The structures of 4 and 7 were determined by X-ray crystallography using Cu K␣ radiation, and the absolute configuration of the sulfinyl group was examined based on the Flack parameter, which revealed that 4 has an RR configuration, while 7 has an S configuration. The circular