A general route to some 1-ethoxycarbonylquinolizinium bromides has been worked out. The method allows to conduct the condensation between β-ketoenol ethers and substituted 2-pyridylacetates in homogenous conditions in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid in an aprotic solvent. The substitution at C-6 in 2-pyridylacetates completely changes the reaction course affording 3,6-disubstituted 2-pyrones.