disclosed are amphiphilic compounds comprising formula i : wherein r 1 , r 2 , and r 3 are c 2 - c 12 straight or branched alkyl ; unsubstituted phenyl , biphenyl , c 3 - c 8 cycloalkyl , or c 3 - c 8 cycloalkenyl ; or phenyl , biphenyl , c 3 - c 8 cycloalkyl , or c 3 - c 8 cycloalkenyl substituted with one , two , or three c 1 - c 6 straight or branched alkyl groups ; or r 1 and r 2 combined are c 3 - c 8 cycloalkyl , c 3 - c 8 cycloalkenyl ; or c 3 - c 8 cycloalkyl or c 3 - c 8 cycloalkenyl substituted with one , two , or three c 1 - c 6 straight or branched alkyl groups ; one of r 4 or r 5 is selected from the group consisting of c 2 - c 6 - straight or branched alkyl -, alkyl -, alkyl -, alkyl - glucosyl , alkyl - maltosyl , glucosyl , maltosyl , and polyethylene ; the other of r 4 or r 5 is selected from the group consisting of h , c 2 - c 6 straight or branched alkyl or alkenyl , c 2 - c 6 - straight or branched alkyl -; alkyl -, alkyl -, alkyl - glucosyl , alkyl - maltosyl , glucosyl , maltosyl , and polyethylene ; and salts thereof . the compounds are detergents useful in the solubilization of membrane - bound proteins .