Four series of aromatic polyimides (PIs V-VIII) composed of biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydrides (BPDAs) and aromatic diamines bearing alkylene spacers were prepared by two methods. Most polymers could be readily prepared in a one-step method for the combination of a-BPDA with alpha,omega-bis(3-aminophenoxy)alkanes, a-BPDA with alpha, omega-bis(4-aminophenoxy)alkanes, and s-BPDB with alpha, omega-bis(3-aminophenoxy)alkanes. However, the polymerization of s-BPDA with alpha,omega-bis(4- aminophenoxy)alkanes gave powders. On the other hand, all four monomer combinations afforded the desired polyamic acid solution in a two-step method. These polymer solutions could be cast into tough and flexible films, which were characterized by their inherent viscosity, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical spectrometry measurements. The glass transition temperatures (T(g)s) of the polymers were in the range of 110-240 degrees C, but they were not clearly defined for PIs VIII and VI. The 5% weight loss temperatures were around 450 degrees C for all prepared PIs. For PI VIII an "odd-even" behavior of the tensile properties of the films was detected, corresponding to the reported behavior of the melting temperatures.