The unusual product of the reaction of 2-chloroacrylonitrile with ethane thiol and following hydrogen peroxide oxidation was found to be (E)-1,2-bis(ethylsulphonyl)cyclobutane-1,2-dicarbonitrile by means of X-ray crystallography. 1H and 13C NMR study of this compound has proven the same conformation of the molecule in solution.