This thesis summarises the research carried out during my PhD on the phosphinecarboxamide family. Inspired by Wöhler’s seminal synthesis of urea, the phosphinecarboxamides are obtained by the reaction of the 2-phosphaethynolate anion, PCO–, a heavier congener of the cyanate anion, with ammonium salts. These species are phosphorus-containing analogues of urea, RHPC(O)NHR’. These compounds are prime examples of primary phosphines that exhibit remarkably air- and moisture stability. Several examples of these compounds were obtained by the reaction of the 2-phosphaethynolate anion with a variety of amines such as amino acids, leading to N-functionalised chiral products and bidentate amines. The reactivity of these compounds was explored by promoting deprotonation of the molecules, which allowed post functionalisation, affording new P-functionalised species. These phosphinecarboxamides were also shown to be able to act as Lewis bases, as they were able to use the phosphorus lone-pair to coordinate to transition metals centres. Finally, this thesis underlines the reactivity of the PCO– anion with amines bearing a ferrocenyl group as well the reactivity of the resulting products.