Both trans-3, 4-dihydroxy-3, 4dhydrobenz [a] anthracene and trans-l, 2-dihydroxy-l, 2- dihydrochrysene are known proximate carcinogens of their respective hydrocarbons. The present study describes the synthesis of their (+)-and (-)-enantiomers as well as the diastereomeric pair of bay-region diol epoxides formed from each enantiomer when the double bond of the dihydrodiol ring is epoxidized either cis (isomer-1 series) or trans ( ...