Efficient syntheses for the precursor molecules, 2‐{6‐[((diphenylphosphoryl)methyl)pyridin‐2‐yl]methyl}isoindoline‐1,3‐dione (2), 2‐[(1,3‐dioxoisoindolin‐2‐yl)methyl]‐6‐[(diphenylphosphoryl)methyl]pyridine 1‐oxide (3), and their 6‐[bis(2‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)phosphoryl]methyl analogues are reported along with their transformations into the dissymmetric ligands, [(6‐(aminomethyl)pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]diphenylphosphine oxide (4), 2‐(aminomethyl)‐6‐[(diphenylphosphoryl)methyl]pyridine 1‐oxide (5) and 2‐(aminomethyl)‐6‐{[bis(2‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)phosphoryl]methyl}pyridine 1‐oxide (5‐F). Selected reactivity of the aminomethyl substituent of 4 and 5, as well as complexation reactions of several of the compounds with lanthanide(III) ions are described. Molecular structures of three uniquely different complexes, {Pr{2‐[HC(O)N(H)CH2]‐6‐[Ph2P(O)CH2]C5H3NO}(NO3)3(MeOH)}2, {Eu{2‐[(Me2N)2CN(H+)CH2]‐6‐[Ph2P(O)CH2]C5H3N(H)+}(NO3)4(OMe)} and {Er{2‐[(C8H4O2)NCH2]‐6‐[Ph2P(O)CH2]C5H3N(O)}(NO3)3(MeOH)}·(CH3)2CO, have been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction methods. The observed and computationally modeled structures that employ bidentate and tridentate ligand/metal interactions are compared. These results suggest further ligand modifications that should provide improved solvent extraction reagents.