Alicyclic polyimides were prepared from 3-carboxylmethyl-cyclopentane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid dianhydride and conventional aromatic diamines. These polyimides possess good solubility in strong polar solvents, such as N-methyl pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethyl acetamide, N,N-dimethyl formamide, and m-cresol. They are transparent and colorless. The glass transition temperatures are about 181 degrees C, and the initial thermal decomposition temperatures in Nz were observed to be 441-477 degrees C.