Polyamides, and methods of producing thereof

A method of producing a polymer, comprising:

• contacting an alkylene oxide and carbon monoxide to form a compound of formula (1);
• combining the compound of formula (1) with a nitrogen-containing compound of formula (2) under aqueous conditions to produce a compound of formula (3-a), wherein:
• the compound formula (1) is
• wherein each R1a, R1b, R1c and R1d is independently H or alkyl,
• the nitrogen-containing compound of formula (2) is R2—NH2, wherein R2 is H or alkyl, and
• combining the compound of formula (3-a) with a weak base to produce the polymer, wherein:
• the compound of formula (3-a) is
• wherein each R1a, R1b, R1c, R1d and R2 is independently H or alkyl, and
• the polymer comprises repeating units of formula
• or a salt thereof wherein each R1a, R1b, R1c, R1d and R2 are as defined above for formula (3-a).