A novel one-pot process for synthesis of acetylenes has been achieved in which the following series of steps are integrated: addition of an a-anion of sulfone to aldehyde, trapping of the resulting adduct to incorporate a leaving group, and double elimination of this intermediate. Consolidation of Peterson elimination renders the process much simpler. This method provides a convenient and high-yielding access to a variety of enynes and polyynes as well as to functionally substituted aryl acetylenes containing halogen(s) or acetal groups, which are useful building blocks for aryl acetylene scaffolds. Iteration of the one-pot generation of acetylenic bonds provides a new methodology for the buildup of aryl acetylene skeletons.