Modified Mannich reactions of amines, amino acids and a model peptide with Ph 2 PH and CH 2 O gave bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)amines (Ph 2 PCH 2) 2 NR [R= Ph (1), CH 2 CH 2 OH (2), CH 2 COOCH 2 Ph (3), CH 2 CONHCH 2 COOCH 2 Ph (4), CH 2 COOH (5)] and (Ph 2 PCH 2) 2 NCH 2 CH 2 N(CH 2 PPh 2) 2 (6). Reaction with [ReBr 3 (CO) 3 ] 2under mild conditions led to ReBr(CO) 3 {(Ph 2 PCH 2) 2 NR} [R= Ph (7), CH 2 CH 2 OH (8), CH 2 COOCH 2 Ph (9), CH 2 CONHCH 2 COOCH 2 Ph (10), CH 2 COOH (11)] and [ReBr(CO) 3 Ph 2 PCH 2) 2 NCH 2 ] 2 (12). All new complexes have been characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy and for 7, 9 and 10, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Stability studies by Electrospray Mass Spectrometry, showed that other than solvolysis, the complexes are fairly stable in neutral and acidic methanol. Cytotoxicity testing of 7-10 and 12 showed that all the complexes are active against specific tumour cell lines.