Herein is reported the preparation of several series of polyammonium salts that serve as cationic lipids or precursors thereof, and are structurally based on the parent diamine 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (dabco). Through selective alkylation of dabco a variety of di- and tetracationic lipid species and precursors thereof have been prepared. The resultant materials are of significant interest for a variety of purposes, including serving as antimicrobial agents and antihydrophobic species, the details of which are provided in separate reports.