The invention relates to an amphiphile acetal of formula (1), ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 represents n-C.sub.8-C.sub.22-alkyl or iso-C.sub.9-C.sub.15-alkyl, R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 represent C.sub.1 to C.sub.7-alkyl or have the same meaning as R.sup.1, and R.sup.3 represents C.sub.1-C.sub.7-alkyl. The compounds are suitable as surfactants, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, wetting agents or defoaming agents.