Compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each straight chain, branched chain or cyclic alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkaryl moieties having from 1-30 carbon atoms; R.sub.3 is a C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkylene, alkenylene, arylene or alkarylene moiety; R.sub.4 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkylene, alkenylene, arylene or alkarylene moiety; A is a water-solubilizing anionic moiety; and n is from 1 to about 100 are useful as surfactants. Compounds wherein groups R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 and integer n are selectively chosen provide good clay soil detergency performance even in the absence of builders. The compounds are usefully combined with other organic surfactants to provide detergent compositions having good clay and oily soil removal performance.