Photochemical studies. Irradiation induced transformations of 1,2-dihydrophthalides

The photochemical behavior of $\text{cis}$-1,2-dihydrophthalide ($\text{1}$) and its 1,2-trimethylene derivative ($\text{4}$) was studied. Besides bicyclo[2.2.0]hexene formation in both cases, ($\text{1}$) transforms into its $\text{trans}$ isomer ($\text{3}$) whereas ($\text{4}$) undergoes a 1,2-shift to ($\text{7}$).