The results of studies described in this report show that irradiation of 1,2-cyclopenta-fused pyridinium perchlorate in aqueous base promotes a remarkably regioselective photocyclization reaction that results in exclusive formation of a single tricyclic allylic alcohol. Moreover, transformation of this photoproduct to a spirocyclic amido diester followed by enzymatic desymmetrization produces an enantiomerically pure monoalcohol. This chemistry comprises a highly concise sequence for the preparation of what should become a useful synthon in synthetic organic chemistry.