Base-promoted cycloaddition reactions of 1-aryl- or 1-aryl-7-substituted-4-oxahepta-1,6-diyne systems in DMSO have proven to involve an anionic intramolecularDiels-Alder process taking place even at room temperature in spite of the reaction suffering from temporary disruption of aromaticity. Although initially formed alpha-arylallenide anion can be protonated by DMSO, it can be back to the allenide