The influence of the polycondensation pathway and aminoalcohol structure was investigated in the synthesis of poly(amide ester)s by polytransesterification from ethyl pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate and 2-amino-2-methylpropan-1-ol or the corresponding bis(amide alcohol), or by polycondensation from the diacid dichloride. Both linear and cyclic structures were identified by steric exclusion chromatography (SEC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS). Transesterification led to cyclic oligomers (macrocycles) with 2-14 pyridine moities in the ring whereas polycondensation from the diacid dichloride gave low molecular weight polymers (Mn = 1800) and macrocycles.