An efficient synthetic method for the allylic sulfone 2 containing a conjugated triene moiety has been proposed involving i) coupling of allylic sulfones 4 with the C5 bromoallylic sulfide 5, ii) base-promoted dehydrosulfonation in the presence of allylic sulfide, and iii) selective oxidation of the resulting trienyl sulfide to the corresponding sulfone. Total synthesis of lycopene starting from the