AbstractThe syntheses of a number of acrylate and methacrylate based amphiphiles are described. One group consists essentially of quaternary ammonium salts and the other of potassium carboxylates. Two non‐ionic species based on oligoethylene oxides are also described. The critical micelle concentration of each has been determined from conductance and dye absorption data, and the values compare satisfactorily with literature data on similar non‐polymerisable molecules. The compounds readily oligomerised in bulk, and in the micellar state the dye absorption data also indicated oligomerisation initiated by a free radical sou