A novel bio-based polyamide, poly(pentamethylene oxamide) (PA52), with high molecular weight has been prepared from dibutyl oxalate and renewable monomer of 1,5-pentanediamine by a two-step polymerization procedure. The chemical structures are analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy while the properties are evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and water uptake measurements for the obtained PA52. The results reveal that PA52 possesses distinguished properties such as high temperature resistance, excellent crystallizability and low water absorption. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2017. (c) 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers