Anionic surfactants having multiple hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups

Anionic surfactants comprising compounds of the formula:

• ##STR7## wherein R.sub.1 represents R.sub.4 --B--R.sub.5 wherein R.sub.4 can be alkyl or hydroxy substituted or perfluorinated alkyl of from 1 to about 22 carbon atoms and the hydroxy-substituted derivative thereof;
• B represents an amide group, wherein R.sub.6 independently represents lower alkyl or hydroxy-substituted alkyl from 1 to about 6 carbons or hydrogen;
• R.sub.2 can independently represent C.sub.1 to about C.sub.10 alkylene and the hydroxy-substituted derivatives thereof, an amide group, a polyether group or R.sub.8 --D.sub.1 --R.sub.8 wherein R.sub.6 has been hereinbefore defined and R.sub.7 independently represents about C.sub.2 to about C.sub.4 alkyl with x being a number between 1 and 20 and R.sub.8 can independently be C.sub.1 to about C.sub.6 alkylene and the hydroxy-substituted derivatives thereof and D.sub.1 represents --O--, --S--, an amide group or --N(R.sub.9)-- wherein R.sub.9 independently represents C.sub.1 to about C.sub.12 alkyl and the hydroxy-substituted derivatives thereof or hydrogen;
• R.sub.3 can independently be alkylene or alkylaryl of 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and the hydroxy-substituted derivatives thereof or R.sub.10 --D.sub.2 --R.sub.10 wherein R.sub.10 can independently be alkylene of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms and the hydroxy-substituted derivatives thereof as well as aryl, and D.sub.2 represents --O--, --S--, --SO.sub.2 --, a carbonyl group, a polyether group, or aryl wherein R.sub.11 represents a carbon chain of from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms and the hydroxy-substituted derivatives thereof or hydrogen, R.sub.7 being as defined hereinabove with x being a number between 1 and 20 and z is a number from 1 to about 4;
• "A" independently represents --N.dbd. and Y independently represents hydrogen, --SO.sub.3 H, --OSO.sub.3 H, --OP(O)(OH).sub.2, --P(O)(OH).sub.2, --COOH, --CO.sub.2 --C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --SO.sub.3 H and the salts thereof.