Following DFT calculations, the structure of a new, remotely stabilised, N-heterocyclic carbene, thought to be very strongly a-donating, was proposed. This structure was benzo[c]quinolizin-6-ylidene. Synthesis of the basic scaffold of the benzo[c]quinolizine ring system was performed, giving benzo[c]quinolizin-6-one (2.3a). Several novel 5 and 7 substituted varieties (2.3b-e) were also synthesised, requiring the development of a new route, due to the failure of the initial coupling step when using substituted substrates.