During the attempted photochemical cyclization of 2,3-bisbenzylidene-γ-hydroxybutyric acid cyclic amide ester, it was observed that a γ-butyrolactone ring was formed, which was concurrent with the release of the amine fragment from the amide. The process occurs with high yield giving rise to the formation of β-apopicropodophyllin and its regioisomer. Additional experiments confirmed the photochemical nature of this transformation, and that it is independent from the photocyclization of the benzylidene groups – a typical reactivity for the members of the fulgide family. In contrast to the latter UV-driven cyclization, the photochemical cleavage of the amide was proven to proceed under irradiation with visible light.

在尝试对2，3-双亚苄基-γ-羟基丁酸环状酰胺酯进行光化学环化的过程中，观察到形成了γ-丁内酯环，这与胺片段从酰胺中的释放同时发生。该过程以高收率发生，导致β-载鬼臼苦素及其区域异构体的形成。额外的实验证实了这种转变的光化学性质，并且它独立于亚苄基的光环化作用-这是the灭肽家族成员的典型反应活性。与后者的紫外线驱动环化相反，已证明酰胺的光化学裂解是在可见光照射下进行的。