Acetylenes (1), carrying two bulky alkyl substituents, reacted with sulfur dichloride (ClSCl) to give 2,3-dialkyl-2,3-dichlorothiiranes (2) nearly quantitatively. The alkaline hydrolysis of crude 2 resulted in the formation of thiirene 1-oxides (3) in 68-90% yields based on 1, thus providing a convenient synthesis of 3. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.