dodecyl tridecyl tetradecyl hexadecyl octadecyl oleyl tallow or soya group in another embodiment each r 3 is independently a hydroxyalkyl group preferably the hydroxyalkyl group is hydroxymethyl or hydroxyethyl group more preferably hydroxyethyl each r 4 is independently a hydrocarbylene group preferably each r 4 is independently an alkylene group having from 1 to about 8 more preferably 2 to about 4 carbon atoms preferably each r 4 is independently ethylene or propylene r 7 is hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms preferably r 7 is hydrogen or a methyl ethyl propyl butyl or hexyl group more preferably hydrogen or methyl group more preferably hydrogen each n is independently 1 to about 150 preferably each n is independently 1 to about 150 more preferably 2 to about 50 more preferably 2 to about 20 more preferably from about 3 to about 10 m equals zero or one m 39 equals zero or one in one embodiment m 39 equals zero and x is preferably oh or 5 str7 wherein r 1 r 5 r 6 r 8 and m are as defined previously in another embodiment m 39 equals one m equals one and x is preferably str8 wherein r 1 r 6 r 8 and m are as defined previously in another embodiment m 39 equals zero n equals one r 2 is a hydroxy substituted or hydroxyalkyl substituted hydrocarbylene group and x is preferably oh str9 wherein r 1 r 5 r 6 r 8 and m are as defined previously the wetting agents used in the present invention are prepared by.