Pyridinium bromides 3 prepared by alkylation of 2-methyl-, 2-ethyl-, and 2-benzylpyridines 1 with methyl bromides 2 bearing an electron-withdrawing group (COPh, CN, C02Et, C6H4NO2) are condensed with PC1, in the presence of Et3N to give 2-phosphaindolizines 4. The 1-unsubstituted representatives 9 (prepared from 8) may undergo a substitution reaction at this position with an excess of PC13 1-and 2-phosphaindolizines are 1, 3- ...