The photochemically initiated dehydro-Diels-Alder (PDDA) reaction is an efficient and versatile method for the prepa- ration of biaryls. The ring closure may take place both inter- and in- tramolecularly, of which the intramolecular variant is more productive from the preparative point of view. A variety of linkers can be employed to connect the ynone moiety, which acts as the chromophore, with another acetylene group, thus allowing large structural versatility. Principles influencing the site selectivity of the PDDA reaction will also be discussed here.