The helical structures of the new highlystrained [2.2]metacyclophanes (5)(the structure of which has been determined by X-ray crystallography) and (8) have been studied and the four stereoisomeric sulphoxides (6) obtained from (5) have been separated by h.p.l.c.; the diastereoisomeric excess in the oxidation of the helical sulphide (5) to yield the sulphoxides (6) is 91%.