. . "e surfactants may be produced from phthalic anhydride and various fatty primary or secondary amines in the presence of a tertiary amine in accordance with the following reaction scheme: wherein R 5 and R 6 are independently selected from H or C, - C, 0 linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkylene, alkaryl, cyclic including aryl, or R 3 - O-R, groups, with R 3 and R," . .