Certain sulfonamidophenols, metal complexes thereof and solutions of said compounds in essentially water-immiscible, liquid hydrocarbon solvents are disclosed. The sulfonamidophenols have the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are as defined in the specification and claims hereof. Particular metal values are recovered from their aqueous solutions by using sulfonamidophenols dissolved in essentially water-immiscible liquid hydrocarbon solvents. The extraction process involves contacting the metal value containing aqueous solution with the solution of sulfonamidophenol in essentially water-immiscible liquid hydrocarbon solvent and stripping the metal values from the loaded organic phase.