Amide compounds are defined and are polymerized to create polyesters and polyurethanes having amide units bearing a pendant functional group, where the nitrogen atom of the amide group is part of the polymer backbone. The pendant functional group of the functionalized amide polymer may be modified or added by post polymerization functionalization of the functionalized amide polymer. The pendant functional group of the functionalized amide polymer may include a protecting group that may be removed after polymerization. The pendant functional groups of the functionalized amide polymers may be used to modulate the physical, chemical and biological properties of the polymers.