2,6-Dichloro-9-thiabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, easily available by an improved condensation of sulfur dichloride, sulfuryl chloride, and 1,5-cyclooctadiene, is a well- behaved scaffold for the nucleophilic substitution of azides and cyanides via neighboring- group participation by the sulfur atom. The products are isolated in high yields with purity >95% by simple extraction and washing protocols.