Abstract: Some tricyclic indolizine compounds having sPLA₂ inhibitory activities have been reported. A general method for preparing multi-cyclic indolizine compounds(1a—1c, 2a—2b and 3) in moderate yields(45%—71%) by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of pyridinium N-ylides, isoquinolinium N-ylides or quinolinium N-ylides to 1,4,4a,8a-tetrahydro-1,4-methanonaphthalene-5,8-dione, followed by an aromatization, in the presence of tetrakispyridine cobalt(Ⅱ) dichromate(TPCD) is described. The method features cheap reagents ,simple workup procedure. The above compounds(1a—1c, 2a—2b and 3) are of great value for evolution in medicinal research studies.

Key words: Tetrakis-pyridine cobalt(Ⅱ) dichromate, Pyridinium N-ylide, 1,4,4a,8a-Tetrahydro- 1,4-methanonaphthalene-5,8-dione, Indolizine