Carboxy ethers

A surfactant composition comprising water and 0.1-20% by weight of a carboxy ether of formula (II):

• [R-O(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.x (C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.y (C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.z ].sub.2 CHCOOM (II)
• wherein:
• R is (i) a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched C.sub.6-20 -alkyl group;
• (ii) a phenyl group substituted with a C.sub.4-16 -alkyl group or a cycloaliphatic group substituted With a C.sub.4-16 alkyl group;
• (iii) a dialkylphenyl group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 5 to 24, a dialkylcycloaliphatic group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 5 to 24, or a trialkylcycloaliphatic group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 5 to 24;
• or (iv) a trialkylphenyl group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 7 to 28;
• x is 0 to 15, y is 1 to 40, z is 0 to 15;
• and
• M is an alkali metal cation, an alkaline earth metal cation, an ammonium cation, a C.sub.1-4 alkanolammonium cation, or a proton.

A washing and cleaning composition, comprising water and 0.5-20% by weight of a carboxy ether of formula (II):

• [R-O(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.x (C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.y (C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.z ].sub.2 CHCOOM (II)
• wherein:
• R is (i) a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched C.sub.6-20 -alkyl group;
• (ii) a phenyl group substituted with a C.sub.4-16 -alkyl group or a cycloaliphatic group substituted with a C.sub.4-16 alkyl group;
• (iii) a dialkylphenyl group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 5 to 24, a dialkylcycloaliphatic group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 5 to 24, or a trialkylcycloaliphatic group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 5 to 24;
• or (iv) a trialkylphenyl group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 7 to 28;
• x is 0 to 15, y is 1 to 40, z is 0 to 15;
• and
• M is an alkali metal cation, an alkaline earth metal cation, an ammonium cation, a C.sub.1-4 alkanolammonium cation, or a proton.

A hydraulic fluid composition, comprising water and 3-25% by weight of a carboxy ether of formula (II):

• [R-O(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.x (C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.y (C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.z ].sub.2 CHCOOM (II)
• wherein:
• R is (i) a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched C.sub.6-20 -alkyl group;
• (ii) a phenyl group substituted with a C.sub.4-16 -alkyl group or a cycloaliphatic group substituted with a C.sub.4-16 alkyl group;
• (iii) a dialkylphenyl group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 5 to 24, a dialkylcycloaliphatic group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 5 to 24, or a trialkylcycloaliphatic group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 5 to 24;
• or (iv) a trialkylphenyl group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 7 to 28;
• x is 0 to 15, y is 1 to 40, z is 0 to 15;
• and
• M is an alkali metal cation, an alkaline earth metal cation, an ammonium cation, a C.sub.1-4 alkanolammonium cation, or a proton.

A lubricant composition, comprising 3-25% by weight of a carboxy ether of formula (II):

• [R-O(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.x (C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.y (C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.z ].sub.2 CHCOOM (II)
• wherein:
• R is (i) a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched C.sub.6-20 -alkyl group;
• (ii) a phenyl group substituted with a C.sub.4-16 -alkyl group or a cycloaliphatic group substituted with a C.sub.4-16 -alkyl group;
• (iii) a dialkylphenyl group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 5 to 24, a dialkylcycloaliphatic group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 5 to 24, or a trialkylcycloaliphatic group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 5 to 24;
• or (iv) a trialkylphenyl group, wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups is 7 to 28;
• x is 0 to 15, y is 1 to 40, z is 0 to 15;
• and
• M is an alkali metal cation, an alkaline earth metal cation, an ammonium cation, a C.sub.1-4 alkanolammonium cation, or a proton.