The oxidative coupling polymerization of bishydrazide is successfully performed to form poly(diacylhydrazine) (PDAH), which is an oxidatively degradable polymer. Oxone is an effective oxidant, and a mixture of an aprotic polar solvent, water, and acetonitrile or N,N-dimethylacetamide is necessary as the solvent. On treatment of PDAH with sodium hypochlorite solution or hydrogen peroxide, the PDAH is rapidly oxidized and degraded to the corresponding dicarboxylic acid. When hydrogen peroxide is used as the oxidant, the addition of acetonitrile and potassium carbonate is necessary for effective degradation. PDAH exhibits high thermal stability in air and a high Tg value. No oxidation is observed in air. Thus, PDAH is an oxidatively degradable high-performance polymer that is stable toward oxygen. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012