Disclosed is a process for preparing a compound of the formula wherein R1 is an alkyl group having at least one ethylenic unsaturation, an arylalkyl group having at least one ethylenic unsaturation, or an alkylaryl group having at least one ethylenic unsaturation, R2 and R3 each, independently of the others, are alkylene groups, arylene groups, arylalkylene groups, or alkylarylene groups, R4 and R5 each, independently of the other, is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and n is an integer representing the number of repeat amide units and is at least 1, said process comprising: (a) reacting a diacid of the formula HOOC—R2—COOH with a diamine of the formula in the presence of a catalyst, a solvent, and a coupling agent to form an oligoamide intermediate; and (b) reacting the oligoamide intermediate with an alcohol of the formula R1—OH to form the product.