A series of 3,3′‐bismaleimidodiphenylsulphone/allylamine (3,3′‐BDS/A) adducts were prepared by reacting 3,3′‐BDS with various molar percentages of allylamine (A). The reaction path, revealed by a model compound study of n‐phenylmaleimide reacting with allylamine, indicates that the imido ring of 3,3′‐BDS was opened by allylamine resulting in the formation of two amido groups. The infrared and mass spectra of curing 3,3′‐BDS/A adducts indicate that the allylamino groups cleaved with the recovery of imido ring of 3,3′‐BDS and then participated in the cure reactions. The cure reaction paths depend on the amount of allylamino groups in the 3,3′‐BDS/A adducts. When it is in a small amount, the cleaved allylamines will accelerate the homopolymerization of 3,3′‐BDS through the maleimide double bonds. When allylamino groups are plentiful, the cleaved allylamines might polymerize by themselves through the allyl groups. A decomposition mechanism of 3,3′‐BDS/A adducts was suggested by mass spectra. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 2469–2478, 1997