The Wilkinson's catalyst (Rh(Ph3P)3Cl) was found to catalyze Diels-Alder reactions of propynol (1a), but-3-yn-2-ol (1b), 2-methylbut-3-yn-2-ol (1c), but-2-yn-1,4-diol (1d) and hept-6-en-3-yn-2-ol (1e) to 2,3-dimethylbutadiene, giving mixtures of the corresponding cyclohexa-1,4-dienes and benzylic alcohols. The solvent played a decisive role in the success of the cycloadditions, the best results being observed with CF3CH2OH. Under these conditions, isoprene added to 1a with a slight para regioselectivity gave a 3:4 mixture of 5-methylcyclohexa-1,4-diene-1-methanol (6) and 4-methylcyclohexa-1, 4-diene-1-methanol (7). © 1990.