The reversibility of the interconversion of 3-sulfolene with buta-1,3-diene and sulfur dioxide suggests the use of sulfolene as a recyclable aprotic dipolar solvent, in replacement for dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which is often used but difficult to separate and poorly reusable. As a model reaction, the reaction of benzyl azide  with 4-toluenesulfonic acid cyanide forming 1-benzyl-5-(4-toluenesulfonyl)tetrazole was investigated. The formation of the tetrazole can also be carried out as a one-pot reaction without the isolation of the benzyl azide with 72% overall yield.
After the reaction, the solvent 3-sulfolene is decomposed at 135 °C and the volatile butadiene (b.p. −4.4 °C) and sulfur dioxide (b.p. −10.1 °C) are deposited in a cooling trap at −76 °C charged with excess sulfur dioxide. After the addition of hydroquinone as polymerization inhibition, 3-sulfoles is formed again quantitatively upon heating to room temperature. It appears questionable though, if 3-sulfolene with a useful liquid phase range of only 64 to a maximum of about 100 °C can be used as DMSO substitutes (easy handling, low cost, environmental compatibility) in industrial practice.