Abstract: There are described pyrrolo[1,2-b]cinnolines having the formula ##STR1## where R.sub.1 when present is hydrogen, loweralkyl, arylloweralkyl or --CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 ; R.sub.2 is hydrogen, loweralkyl, arylloweralkyl, chlorine, bromine, iodine, formyl, nitro, --Ch.dbd.CR.sub.3 R.sub.4 or --CH.sub.2 CHR.sub.3 R.sub.4, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 being independently hydrogen, loweralkyl, aryl or arylloweralkyl; X is oxygen, amino, loweralkylamino, arylloweralkylamino or methoxy; and Y is hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, trifluoromethyl or nitro, and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof which are useful as analgesic agents and as enhancers of cholinergic function and hence for the treatment of memory dysfunctions and senile dementia's such as Alzheimer's disease characterized by diminished cholinergic function.