Abstract Optically pure (S)-2-p-tolylsulfinyl-1, 4-benzoquinone (5) is readily obtained by deketalization of the corresponding quinone bisketal 4, synthesized by Andersen's type synthesis on 2-bromo-1, 4-dimethoxybenzene (1) followed by anodic oxidation of the resulting sulfoxide. The Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene with 5 took place on C 5-C 6 dienophilic double bond showing high facial selectivity, which can be inverted by using ...