α,β-unsaturated esters is achieved, involving successively the Sharpless epoxidation of allylicalcohols, oxidation to glycidic acids, conversion into α,β-epoxy diazomethyl ketones, and irradiation in ethanol at 300 nm. Intermediates in the photo-induced rearrangement are epoxy ketenes, which undergo ethanolysis with simultaneous opening of the epoxide, preferably via a transition state involving the