Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of N-substituted 3-sulfopropylammonium betaines.N-substituted allylammonium compounds are reacted in the presence of initiators, such as oxygen, and catalytic acting transition metallic ions of the first, fifth, seventh or eighth secondary groups of the Periodic Table, with salts of sulfurous acid under mild reaction conditions.The process can be executed with simple equipment and requires only small energy expenditures, the compounds of the present invention being produced selectively in an almost quantitative yield.Further advantages of the process: the use of carcinogenic alkylates can be avoided, chemicals of technical purity and tap water can be employed and hardly any by-products result.The substances have surface tension qualities and can be employed in many technical fields, especially in laundry agent formulations for energy-saving laundering processes.