A calcium salt of mono(hydroxypentyl)phthalate [Ca(HPP)(2)] was synthesized by the reaction of 1,5-pentanediol, phthalic anhydride, and calcium acetate. Four different bisureas such as hexamethylene bis(omega,N-hydroxyethylurea), tolylene 2,4,bis(omega,N-hydroxyethylurea), hexamethylene bis(omega,N-hydroxypropylurea), and tolylene 2,4-bis(omega,N-hydroxypropylurea) were prepared by reacting ethanolamine or propanolamine with hexamethylene diisocyanate, (HMDI) or tolylene 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI). Calcium-containing poly(urethane-urea)s (PUUs) were synthesized by reacting HMDI or TDI with 1:1 mixtures of Ca(HPP)(2) and each of the bisureas with di-n-butyltin dilaurate as a catalyst. The PUUs were well characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, H-1 and C-13 NMR, solid-state C-13-cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning NMR, viscosity, solubility, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction studies. Thermal properties of the polymers were also examined with thermogravimetric analyses and differential scanning calorimetry. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.