A new polyamide containing bithiazole moieties (polythiazole amides, PTA) was synthesized by the polycondensation of 2,2'-diamino-4,4'-bithiazole and oxalyl chloride. The rare-earth metal complexes of the polymer were prepared from PTA and rare-earth chloride in DMSO. The structures of the polymer and the complexes were characterized through IR spectra. The preliminary magnetic properties of the complexes were investigated; it was found that these materials are ferromagnets at low temperature. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.