[reaction: see text]. beta-Hydroxy sulfone-based tethers were employed for the first time to achieve thermally mediated intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition. The reactions proceeded with complete regioselectivity and high (10/1) to complete endo/exo-selectivity and resulted in the preferential formation of one of the two possible endo-cycloadducts. The yields and stereoselectivities were proportional to the bulk of the R(1) substituent on the beta-acyloxysulfonyl tether.