Modified Mannich reactions of amines, amino acids and a model peptide with Ph₂PH and CH₂O gave bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)amines (Ph₂PCH₂)₂NR [R=Ph (1), CH₂CH₂OH (2), CH₂COOCH₂Ph (3), CH₂CONHCH₂COOCH₂Ph (4), CH2COOH (5)] and (Ph₂PCH₂)₂NCH₂CH₂N(CH₂PPh₂)₂ (6). Reaction with [ReBr₃(CO)₃]²⁻ under mild conditions led to [ReBr(CO)₃]{(Ph₂PCH₂)₂NR} [R=Ph (7), CH₂CH₂OH (8), CH₂COOCH₂Ph (9), CH₂CONHCH₂COOCH₂Ph (10), CH₂COOH (11)] and [ReBr(CO)₃(Ph₂PCH₂)₂NCH₂]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. Electrospray mass spectrometric studies show that the rhenium–phosphine chelates are very stable, especially in neutral methanolic solution. Hydrolysis of the ester and amide linkages slowly occur in acidic and basic solutions over several weeks; displacement of the bromide ligand also occurs in basic medium. Cytotoxicity testing of 7–10 and 12 showed that all the complexes are active against specific tumor cell lines, especially MCF-7 breast cancer and HeLa-S3 suspended uterine carcinoma.
