N-(2-hydroxyalkanoyl)-N,N′-dialkylureas of general formula (1) are described A-X-(A)m  (1) where A: m=0 or m=1; when m=0, X=R′″, where R′″ is an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, arylaliphatic radical, C1-C18; when m=1, X=—(CH2)n—, where n is an integer from 1 and 20, preferably from 2 to 6; R is chosen among H, and alkyl radicals C1-C8, possibly substituted with halogen atoms; R′ is an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, arylaliphatic radical, C1-C18; R″ is chosen among H, aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, arylaliphatic radical, C1-C18.The preparation of said compounds is described, as well as the preparation of corresponding polymers.