Here we wish to continue our investigation of sulfobetaine surfactants in which the charges on the zwitterionic headgroup are reversed compared to those on zwitterionic phospholipids, to study the effect this has on lipid phase behaviour, structure and ion-binding to the headgroups. We have synthesised a novel di-chain surfactant which more closely resembles phospholipids in its phase behaviour so that the effect of headgroup charge reversal can be studied directly. Sulfobetaine surfactants are less environmentally toxic and less irritating than ionic surfactants so are of interest for encapsulation and use in materials where mildness is important eg personal care, therapeutics. Binding of divalent ions to sulfobetaines is much less investigated than for the phospholipids, so this work will help to understand ion binding in zwitterionic species in general.