PURPOSE: To obtain a surfactant which acts first as a surfactant and then rapidly stops performing its function as surfactant, by preparing a sulfuric acid ester-type anionic surfactant which has a methallyl group and which is represented by a specific general formula.

CONSTITUTION: Nonylphenol or the like and methaglycidyl ether are heated to react with each other in the presence of a catalyst. The resulting reaction product is subjected to addition of an alkylene oxide, and then sulfated with a sulfating agent such as sulfuric acid. According to need, the resulting reaction mixture is neutralized with a basic substance. As a result, a compound represented by formula I (wherein R represents a 8W30C alkyl, alkenyl or aralkylaryl group, A represents a 2W4C alkylene or substituted alkylene group, n is an integer of 0W100, m is an integer of 1W200, and M represents an alkali metal atom., NH4 or an alkanolamine residue) is obtained, and it is used as a surfactant.