The formation of the indolizino[1,2-c]quinolinium system by a novel nucleophilic reaction

2-Methyl-3-(2-pyridyl)quinoline (1) with a bromomethyl ketone or ethyl bromoacetate yields 6-methyl-12-acylindolizino[1,2-c]quinolinium bromides ( 5–9 ). The acyl derivatives can be deacylated in acid yielding 6-methyl indolizino[1,2-c]quinolinium salts ( 4 ). Benzoylation of 4 yields the 12-benzoyl derivative ( 6 ). The deacylation product ( 4 ) has been synthesized from 2-acetamidophenacyl bromide ( 10 ) and 2-pyridylacetone ( 12 ).