Polynuclear-heterocyclic sulfides (I-IV) were oxidized dominantly to the corresponding sulfoxides and sulfones via TiO2-mediated photocatalytic oxidation in aerated acetonitrile. Also, methylene group in IV and V and active methene groups in VI have been readily oxidized to carbonyl one in a high yield under the same prevailing conditions. A plausible electron transfer mechanism, in which an electron-hole pair is generated on the surface of TiO2 by illumination, is suggested for the semiconductor-mediated photocatalysis. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.