2-Furamide was treated with an excess of paraformaldehyde in an acidic medium to promote both its oxymethylation and the subsequent polycondensation of the reaction product involving the C5 position of the heterocycle. The molecular weight of ensuing 2,5-furanmethylene polyamide was optimised by examining the role of the synthetic procedure, the catalyst and medium used and the reaction temperature. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.