Alkyl-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylates (R-PCA), the derivatives of higher alcohols, were prepared and their properties as emulsion stabilizers were estimated using surface tension meter and Multiple Drop methods in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and were compared to those of another system containing a series of the corresponding alcohols as stabilizers. The R-PCA system markedly reduced the interfacial tension compared to a higher alcohol system, and the interfacial tensions for both R-PCA and higher alcohol systems decreased with the increase of carbon chain length. The stability of oil drops increased greatly by addition of R-PCA compared to higher alcohol system. In the higher alcohol system, the stability of oil drop showed the minimum at carbon 12. In the R-PCA system, the stability of oil drops increased greatly with the increase of carbon chain length. A series of R-PCA was found to be useful as emulsion stabilizers.