Photocycloaddition of four-carbon-tethered pyridones. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding and facilitated amide hydrolysis by a proximal secondary alcohol.

Four-carbon-tethered pyridones undergo photocycloaddition to give exclusively trans-[4 + 4] products. The presence of a tether alcohol engenders a solvent-dependent diastereoselectivity for the cycloaddition by intramolecular hydrogen bonding to the adjacent pyridone. Following cycloaddition, the alcohol can deliver a carbonyl group to the proximal, hindered amide nitrogen, leading to a very facile amide hydrolysis.