The title compounds 4 are obtained by photolysis of simple N‐alkylpyridinium salts in H₂O or alcohol. On reaction with [Fe₂(CO)₉] in THF, 4 gives bicyclic tricarbonyliron complexes 13a–d, which on oxidative decomplexation with ceric ammonium nitrate afford cis‐fused cyclopenteno‐β‐lactams 15a–d.