Disclosed are amphiphilic compounds comprising Formula I:wherein R1, R2, and R3 are C2-C12 straight or branched
alkyl; unsubstituted phenyl,
biphenyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, or C3-C8 cycloalkenyl; or phenyl,
biphenyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, or C3-C8 cycloalkenyl substituted with one, two, or three C1-C6 straight or branched
alkyl groups; or R1 and R2 combined are C3-C8 cycloalkyl, C3-C8 cycloalkenyl; or C3-C8 cycloalkyl or C3-C8 cycloalkenyl substituted with one, two, or three C1-C6 straight or branched
alkyl groups; one of R4 or R5 is selected from the group consisting of C2-C6-straight or branched alkyl-(dimethyl-N-
oxide), alkyl-(
dimethylamine), alkyl-(trimethylammonium), alkyl-glucosyl, alkyl-maltosyl, glucosyl, maltosyl, and
polyethylene(
glycosyl); the other of R4 or R5 is selected from the group consisting of H, C2-C6 straight or branched alkyl or alkenyl, C2-C6-straight or branched alkyl-(dimethyl-N-
oxide); alkyl-(
dimethylamine), alkyl-(trimethylammonium), alkyl-glucosyl, alkyl-maltosyl, glucosyl, maltosyl, and
polyethylene(
glycosyl); and salts thereof. The compounds are detergents useful in the solubilization of membrane-bound proteins.