Polyaspartate derivatives, especially hydrophobically modified and/or hydrophilically modified polyaspartate derivatives, most especially polyaspartate derivatives that are both hydrophilically and hydrophobically modified, for use in detergent compositions, specifically laundry detergent compositions for providing cleaning, dispersancy, especially soil dispersion, builder properties and/or improved whitening of fabrics contacted by such detergent compositions; and methods for making such polyaspartate derivatives, and methods and articles employing such detergent compositions, are provided.