The present invention provides new amino lipids and a convenient method for synthesising these compounds. These (cationic) amino lipids have good properties as transfection agents. The method is an economic versatile two step synthesis allowing the preparation of various amino lipids thus leading to the assembly of a combinatorial library of transfection agents. Moreover, the present invention provides lipid particles (liposomes) containing said amino lipids and their use for delivering bioactive agents into cells. The invention encompasses also the use of lipid particles containing the cationic amino lipids as medicament.