The intramolecular [2+2] cycloaddition of 2-pyridones togive bicyclicblactams was firstdiscovered by Corey and Streith,
17 and these strained intermediates have been used to make cisdivinylblactams through ringopeningcross metathesis.
18 Photorearrangement of dihydrothiin- 3-ones to thietan-3- ones has been described ,again via a strained bi cyclic intermedi ate ( a sulfuranylalkyl biradical).
19 However ,the photo isomerization of dihydropyrid in-3-ones via the tandem [4+2]-cyclo reversion/[2+ 2] cycloaddition process described here is,to the best of our knowledge,unprecedented for hetero cyclic systems.
20Scheme