ABSTRACT:A novel class of polyimides, N-phenylated wholly aromatic non-cyclic polyimides, was synthesized by the low-temperature solution and two-phase phase-transfer catalyzed polycondensations of new aromatic bis(imidoyl chloride )s, N,N' -diphenylisophthalimidoyl chloride and N,N' -diphenylterephthalimidoyl chloride, with aromatic dicarboxylic acids, isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid. The resulting polyimides were all white in color and had reduced viscosities of 0.11-0.14 dl g -1. Compared with the conventional polyimides having cyclic imide structures, these N-phenylated non-cyclic polyimides exhibited better solubility in various organic solvents, reduced crystallinity and lower glass transition temperatures and thermal stability. The reduced viscosity of a typical polyimide decreased rapidly upon UV light irradiation, indicating the occurrence of photodegradation. Before the polymer synthesis, the effects of reaction medium, organic and inorganic bases and phase-transfer catalyst were studied on the solution and two-phase reactions of N,N'