1-(3-Sulfolen-3-yl)pyridinium bromide (5) and 1-(3-methyl-2-sulfolen-4
-yl)pyridinium bromide (35) have been prepared and served as the stabl
e precursors for the cation-substituted dienes 6a and 32a, respectivel
y. Compounds 6a and 32a are reactive dienes in the Diels-Alder reactio
ns with a number of electron-poor dienophiles. Some [4 + 2] cycloaddit
ions of 66 and 32a can take place in water.