Several potentially thermostable polyamides were prepared. 2,2 '-Diiodobiphenyl-4,4 '-dicarboxylic acid and its diacid chloride 1 were synthesized. The latter was condensed with several amines, e.g., aniline, p-toluidine, pchloroaniline, and 2-aminopyridine, to prepare model compounds of polyamides testing the reactivity of the diacid dichloride 1 towards various amines, and to compare their spectra with those of the polymers. The polyamides themselves were prepared by solution and melt condensation of diacid chloride 1 with the following diamines: pphenylenediamine, m-phenylenediamine, 2,ddiaminotoIuene, benzidine, bis(rl-*nophenyl)methane, 4,4 '-diaminobiphenyl sulfone, and 3,3 '-diaminobenzophenone. The solubility of the polyamides in different solvents and their inherent viscosities were also measured. The values of the inherent viscosity were in the range of 0,l-1,9. The UV, IR, and 'H NMR spectra of the prepared polyamides were recorded. The melting points of the polymers were found to be higher than 360 "C and the thermogravimetric curves showed that the polymers are stable up to 400°C in air.