A new route to polyamides -was established on the polycondensation of a new typical active diester

active diester of N-hydroxy-5-norbornene-2

3-dicarboximide such as N

N'-(isophthaloyldioxy) bis(5-norbornene-2

3-dicarboximide) and N

N'-(terephthaloyl-dioxy) bis (5-norbornene-2

3-dicarboximide) with diamines including ethylenediamine and hexamethylenediamine. The polycondensation occurred at room temperature without added catalyst in solution.