The selena and thiaanhydro alditols (with xylo, ribo, D-arabino, erythro, D,L-threo and D-manno configuration) were easily and expeditiously synthesized in good to excellent yields by reaction of selenure and sulfur ions as binucleophiles with alpha,omega-dibromoalditols as bis-electrophilic substrates. With the 1,6-dibromo-D-glucitol derivative as substrate, only the corresponding thiepane derivative was obtained while the selenaheterocyclistation attempte led to complex mixture. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.