Phosphobetaines

Phosphobetaine compounds of the formula

• wherein
• A is selected from O.sup.-, OM, and --O--Y--R.sup.+
• B is selected from O.sup.- and OM'
• X.sup.- is an anion
• z is an integer from 0 to 2
• with the proviso that only one of A and B can be O.sup.- and z is of a value necessary for charge balance;
• R is an amidoamine reactant moiety of the formula ##STR113## wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, or hydroxyalkyl of from 5 to 22 carbon atoms each, or aryl or alkaryl of up to 20 carbon atoms,
• R.sup.2 is hydrogen or alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or alkenyl of up to 6 carbon atoms each or cycloalkyl of up to 6 carbon atoms, preferably of from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, or polyoxyalkalene of up to 10 carbon atoms,
• R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, which may be the same or different, are selected from alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, carboxyalkyl of up to 6 carbon atoms in each alkyl moiety, and polyoxyalkylene of up to 10 carbon atoms;
• in addition, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached, may represent an N-heterocycle, e.g., a morpholino structure, in which the Y radical is bonded to a ring atom of said N-heterocycle other than the nitrogen of the R moiety;
• n is an integer from 2 to 12;
• Y is alkylene, optionally interrupted by up to 3 oxygen atoms, of up to 12 carbon atoms, which alkylene chain may optionally be substituted with lower alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy or hydroxyalkyl, e.g. of not more than 10 carbon atoms each;
• M and M', which may be the same or different, are (a) hydrogen, (b) an organic radical selected from alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of up to 6 carbon atoms, polyhydroxyalkyl of up to 10 carbon atoms, glyceryl, cycloalkyl of up to 6 carbon atoms, aryl or arylalkyl of up to 10 carbon atoms, or (c) a salt radical selected from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and mono-, di-, or tri-ethanolamine, provided that when either M or M' is an organic radical (b), the other M and M' must be hydrogen or a salt radical (c).