Metal salts and amides of alkyl-lactam acetic acids are prepared by reacting gamma-hydrocarbyl butyrolactone acetic acid compounds derived from alkenylsuccinic anhydrides with metal compounds and amines or amines alone. High molecular weight lactam acid salts and amides and metal complexes and metal carbamates thereof are useful as detergents or dispersants in organic industrial fluids. Another aspect of this invention is a method of preparing lactone acetic acids in yields up to 90% conversion from alkenylsuccinic anhydrides.