Unlike bay-region diol epoxides, the fjord-region benzo[c]phenanthrene 3,4-diol 1,2-epoxide-2 (4-hydroxyl and epoxide oxygen trans) undergoes non-regioselective ring opening by both ammonia and azide anion. Adducts corresponding to a benzylic and non-benzylic S(N)2 ring opening by N6 of deoxyadenosine have been characterized.