N-D-Gluco-N-methylalkanamide compounds, a new class of non-ionic detergents for membrane biochemistry.

N-d-Gluco-N-methylalkanamide detergents have been synthesized. The detergents, which were produced in high yield and at low cost, compared favourably in biochemical studies with commonly used non-ionic detergents, including a chemically related n-alkyl glucoside. The ease of removal by dialysis, high solubilizing power and non-denaturing properties of this new class of detergents make them valuable reagents for membrane research.