Unsymmetrical 8-oxa-3-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octane and 9-oxa-3-thiabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane underwent highly regioselective base-induced elimination but low selectivity was observed for the sulfonyl and the aza-oxa systems. A correlation between the regioselectivity of the reaction and the proton undergoing abstraction (i.e. equatorial vs. the axial proton) was made. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.