Introduction 4499 2. Diels-Alder Cycloadditions 4499 2.1. Unsaturated Sulfones as Dienophiles 4499 2.1.1. Early Studies 4499 2.1.2. Aromatization of Cycloaddition Products of Acetylenic Sulfones 4501 2.1.3. Iterative Diels-Alder and Ramberg-Backlund Reactions of Chloroalkylsulfonyl Allenes 4502 2.1.4. Diels-Alder Cycloadditions of Bis(sulfonyl)acetylenes and Their Equivalents 4502 2.1.5. Diels-Alder Cycloadditions of Acetylenic Sulfones Containing Heteroatom Substituents 4503 2.1.6. Diels-Alder Reactions of Dienyl Sulfones as Dienophiles 4504 2.1.7. Diels-Alder Reactions of Unsaturated Sulfones with Pyrroles 4505 2.1.8. Diels-Alder Reactions of Unsaturated Sulfones with Furans and Isobenzofurans 4507 2.1.9. Miscellaneous Cycloadditions 4508 2.2. Dienyl Sulfones As the Diene Components in Diels-Alder Reactions 4509 2.2.1. 1-Sulfonyl Derivatives † Dedicated to Professor David N. Harpp, for his inspiring contributions as a teacher, mentor and scholar.