Transesterification reactions were carried out with myo-inositol and five fatty acid methyl esters such as methyl laurate, methyl myristate, methyl palmitate, methyl stearate and methyl oleate in the dimethylsulfoxide solvent. Their products were separated by both thin layer chromatography and column chromatography, and myo-inositol monoesters were quantitatively separated by counter current distribution. We measured their surface tension, foaming power and emulsifying power, determined critical micelle concentrations by the color method, and evaluated their hydrophilic-lipophilic balance. The results show that myo-inositol monoesters exhibit surface activites.