ABSTRACT:Two diamine monomers, 4-[4-(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)phenoxy]-1,3-diamino benzene and 4-{4-[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]phenoxy}-1,3-diamino benzene, were synthesized, and both diamines were polycondensed with three commercial dianhydrides to obtain aromatic polyimides containing pendant groups. The polyimides were characterized by solubility tests, viscosity measurements, IR, 1 H-NMR, and 13 C-NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction studies, and thermogravimetric analysis. The polyimides had inherent viscosities of 0.33-0.58 dL/g in m-cresol at 30 Ϯ 0.1°C. All the polyimides were amorphous and were soluble in solvents such as N, Ndimethylacetamide, N,. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polyimides indicated no weight loss below 410°C under a nitrogen atmosphere.