(E)-3-Phenylsulfonylprop-2-enenitrile undergoes facile Diels–Alder reactions, moderate regioselectivity being observed with several unsymmetrical dienes. Danishefsky's diene and furfuryl alcohol react regioselectively. The cycloadducts formed with cyclopentadiene and with anthracene undergo base-catalysed elimination of benzenesulfinic acid to yield α, β- unsaturated nitriles.