A new class of nonionic detergents with a gluconamide polar group.

Detergents containing either a cholic acid, a deoxycholic acid, or an octanoic acid-like hydrophobic moiety and a bisgluconamidopropyl polar group were synthesized. Extinction coefficients, partial specific volumes, critical micelle concentrations, and aggregation numbers were determined for each of the detergents. The two bile acid derivatives are capable of solubilizing functional opiate receptor, while the octanoic acid derivative is not.