Single crystal x-ray diffraction analyses revealed the relative configuration of esperamicin X and the absolute configuration of 2-deoxy fucose, a fragment present in all known esperamicins. Comparison of the CD curves for esperamicins X and Z gave evidence for their identical chirality. Based on these data the absolute stereochemistry of [7,3,1] bicyclic aglycone of esperamicins has been assigned as C-1 (S), C-8 (S). and C-12 (S).