Several amphiphilic glycosyl carbamates, glycosyl thiocarbamates and glycosylthioureas were prepared by addition of the anomeric hydroxyl group of acetylated glycosyl derivatives to alkyl isocyanates, or by reaction of glycosyl isothiocyanates with alcohols or amines. The solubility, critical micelle concentrations and detergent efficiency for the extraction of proteins of these compounds were evaluated and compared.