A series of 5-aryl-1,2-dithiolethiones and 5-aryl-1,2-dithiole-3-ones were investigated as hydrogen sulfide-releasing anti-inflammatory drugs. Generally, phenolic acetophenones were best protected by methoxymethyl groups and the dithiolethione group installed by treatment with carbon disulfide, hexamethyldisilathiane, and hexachloroethane. However, ether-protected acetophenones could be elaborated to β-keto esters and converted to dithiolethiones by treatment with phosphorus pentasulfide and elemental sulfur. Dethionation of dithiolethiones to 1,2-dithiole-3-ones was accomplished by mercury(ii)-promoted hydrolysis. A preliminary investigation of the dithiolethiones and dithiole-3-ones as inhibitors of cyclooxygenases COX-1 and COX-2 is discussed. Dithiolethiones bearing a 5-(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) or 5-(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenyl) substituent were the most effective inhibitors of COX-2 and displayed excellent selectivity against COX-1, comparable with rofecoxib, a representative coxib. It is shown that uncatalyzed hydrolysis of the thiocarbonyl group to release hydrogen sulfide leads to the corresponding carbonyl compound, and these carbonyl compounds are moderate COX-2 selective inhibitors.