Abstract We have designed a new axially chiral bis (sulfoxide) molecule with conformational rigidity: 2, 6-dithiaspiro [3.3] heptane 2, 6-dioxide 2a. This molecule has axial asymmetry due to two puckered thietane ring systems. The lone pairs on the sulfur show a strong s- character, which was expected to result in a high barrier to racemization, that is, inversion at the sulfur. We confirmed this prediction by calculations and experimentation. The lone ...