Products of formula (I) ##STR1## in which R=C.sub.6-18 aromatic or alkylaromatic of valency z, R'=H, C.sub.1-16 alkyl or phenyl, A=CH.sub.2 or CH.sub.2 --O-- and, in the latter case, R'.noteq.H, x=1-8, y=1-20, z=1-3 and T denotes one or more anionic groups or a mixture of anionic groups and non-ionic groups are disclosed.These compounds are prepared by the reaction of a phenol R(OH).sub.z with an epoxide ##STR2## and an epihalogenohydrin ##STR3## in which X=Cl or Br, this being followed by replacement of X with one or more hydrophilic groupsThese compounds can be used as surface-active agents.