a b s t r a c tBenzene is unreactive as a photochemistry partner with 2-pyridone, however benzene substitution can allow for an efficient [4+4] (a k a, 'para') photocycloaddition. Productive substituents include alkoxy, cyano, ester, and trifluoromethyl, suggesting that inductively electron-withdrawing groups are sufficient, however a single fluorine substituent does not result in cycloaddition. When the product of this cycloaddition contains a conjugated system (e.g., an unsaturated ester) a secondary photocycloaddition can follow, forming triply bridged all-syn-[3]ladderane products.