A general method for the preparation of (E) terminal conjugated dienes was developed by the flash thermolysis of 2-substituted 2,5-dihydrothiophene-1,1-dioxides generated by a retro Diels–Alder reaction. This process allows the obtention of conjugated dienes, bearing or not a functionality (alcohols, esters), with an excellent stereoisomeric purity (in general higher than 98%). An application to the synthesis of (E)-9,11-dodecadien-1-yl acetate, the major component of the sex pheromone of Diparopsiscastanea, shows the generality and the efficacy of this method.