Compounds having chelating ligands and surface activity are reviewed. Hydrophobic groups were introduced into the chelate ligands such as ethylenediamine, polyethylene-polyimines, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), aminophosphonic acids, and 2-salicylic acid. Carbon - and nitrogen-substitution products or ester-and amide-derivatives of EDTA and DTPA were found to form metal chelates and have excellent surface activities. Some of them were applied to additives for coatings, coal slurry fuels and anti-tumor drugs.