An experimental and computational investigation is conducted into the role of substituents in retro Diels–Alder extrusion of CO2 from 2-oxa-bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-3-ones. We provide the first experimental evidence that loss of CO2 from the cycloadducts significantly depends on the nature and position of the substituents. For example, we show that whilst 5-carboethoxy-2-pyrone undergoes a more facile cycloaddition that 3-carboethoxy-2-pyrone, the cycloadduct from the latter pyrone undergoes a more facile loss of CO2 than the cycloadduct from the former pyrone.