Among the available methods the Tschitschibabin (or Chichibabin) indolizine synthesis [1] [4] is widely used whereby a 2-substituted pyridine is quaternized with an α-halocarbonyl compound followed by cyclization of the quaternary salt. This procedure can proceed with or without isolation of the intermediate pyridinium salt and in the absence or presence of a base (eg NaHCO 3 , K 2 CO 3 , Et 3 N). The reaction tolerates a wide range of solvents including, alcohols, ...