This invention relates to an acid labile surfactant. In particular, the surfactants of the present invention include a dioxolane or dioxane functional group which enables the surfactant to hydrolyze in an acidic environment. Surfactants of this type can be utilized to enhance protein solubilization/enzyme digestion. Following hydrolysis to destroy the surfactant (which may chromatographic issues), there are generally two components formed—a hydrophilic one, and a hydrophobic one. By altering the chemistry of the hydrolysable linker, the polarity of the hydrophobic residue can be altered, allowing it to be solubilized by significantly less organic solvent, and to minimize the potential loss of peptide material and to expand the chromatographic conditions that can be utilized.