The 1,4-oxathiine-S-oxides 6 when heated at 60 degrees C in CHCl3 unde
rgo a retro Diels-Alder reaction with generation of alpha,alpha'-dioxo
sulfine 8. This reactive intermediate can be trapped by electron rich
dienophiles as well as by dienes. In both cases the cycloaddition reac
tions show interesting stereoselective features.