Stable benzo[g]isoquinolinium methylids were obtained from N-phenacylbenzo[g]isoquinolinium bromides and two of its benzene ring-substituted analogs. The first of these quaternary salts was converted to benzo[g]isoquinolinium dibenzoylmethylid. 3-Benzoyl-l,2-dicarbomethoxynaphth[2,3-g]indolizine was obtained from the same salt with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction). © 1980, Plenum Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.