Eight new 2-phosphaindolizines 2 have been obtained by [4 + 1] cycloco
ndensation of 1,2-dialkylpyridinium halides 1 with PCl3. The X-ray str
ucture analysis of 2a is consistent with the integration of the 1,3-az
aphosphole ring in the 10 pi-aromatic system. The charge densities on
phosphorus Of various representatives as obtained by PM3 calculations
col relate approximately with the P-31-NMR shifts. The mass spectral f
ragmentation of 2a resembles that of its nonphosphorus analog. (C) 199
8 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.