N-Pyridinium dichlorophosphinomethylides disproportionate to generate bis(N
-pyridiniumylidyl)phosphenium chloride which undergoes I, 5-electrocyclizat
ion to give 2-phosphaindolizines. In one-pot synthesis N-(alkoxycarbonylmet
hyl)pyridinium bromide reacts with PCl3 in presence of Et3N to form 2-phosp
haindolizine. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.