product (30). Epoxidation of the enolether of 30 proceeds exclusively from one face of the cyclooctene ring, demonstrating the facial bias of the polycyclic system and correctly introducing the C-2 stereogenic center of taxol. As part of this study, 4-methoxy-2-pyridones, known to be inert to [4 + 4] photodimerization, were found to undergo [4 + 4] photocycloaddition with 4-unsubstituted-2-pyridones