The invention relates to compositions comprising a lubricant or a hydraulic fluid and at least one compound of the general formula ##STR1## wherein n is 2, 3 or 4, X is --S--, --O--, --O--CO-- or --CH.sub.2 --, R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.22 alkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl or phenyl, and R.sup.2 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkyl which is substituted by an --OH group, or a group of the formula --CH.sub.2 --CH(OH)--CH.sub.2 --X--R.sup.1, wherein X and R.sup.1 have the given meanings, and to novel compounds of the formula indicated above. The glucamine derivatives of formula I are especially suitable for use as antiwear agents and as extreme pressure additives for mineral and synthetic lubricant oils and hydraulic fluids, and also as amphipolar ligands for imparting lipophilic properties to intrinsically hydrophilic metal salts, metal oxides, metal hydroxides and to protic acids. The complex compounds so obtained of the formulaM.sub.n.sup.m. X.sub.m.sup.n. pY.qZ,wherein M is a cation of valency m or a proton, X is an anion of valency n, Z is a compound of formula I, Y is water or a neutral organic molecule, p is a value from 0 to 2, q is a value from 1 to 8, m is an integer from 1 to 6 and n is an integer from 1 to 4, are also disclosed.