The photolytic reaction of 0-methyl podocarpinitrile oxide to yield the δ-lactam (shown below) was studied under various conditions such as: solvent (hexane, methanol), mercury lamp wattage (lOOW, 450W), filter (Pyrex, Corex, Vycor), and additives (dichloromethane, hexafluorobenzene). The reactions were analyzed with IR, NMR and HPLC. Preparative medium pressure liquid chromatography and TLC were used in the δ-lactam isolation. The conditions resulting in the optimum yield of δ-lactam were determined. The photolytic stability of the δ-lactam under the conditions in which it was formed indicated that it was relatively stable only in hexane.