The thermal displacement of methyl acrylate from Fe(CO)(4)(eta(2)-CH2=CHCOOMe) by phosphine ligands is a relatively slow reaction requiring several hours at elevated temperatures. In the present study, it is observed that photolysis of the tetracarbonyl complex with UV light activates the process such that the reaction is complete within a few seconds. This rate enhancement is due to the formation of an intermediate eta(4) complex where the organic C=O and C=C units of methyl acrylate occupy axial and equatorial coordination sites on the Fe center, respectively, following photochemical CO loss. The displacement of methyl acrylate from this photolytically generated intermediate is facile with a remarkably low barrier of 8.7 kcal/mol. Density functional theory calculations support these experimental observations.