The (+)- and (−)-trans-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydrobenzo[c]phenanthrenes have been resolved and assigned absoluteconfiguration by independent nmr and CD methods. Each was converted to its pair of diastereomeric bay-region 3,4-diol-1,2-epoxides in which the benzylic 4-hydroxyl group is either cis or trans to the epoxide oxygen.