A series of polyarylates containing phosphorus (pho-PARs) were synthesized from bisphenol A with different molar ratios of bis-(4-carboxyphenyl) phenyl phosphine oxide (BCPPO) to terephthalic acid (TPA). When the contents of BCPPO are in the range of 0.4-1.0, the pho-PARs are readily soluble in a wide range of organic solvents and have the glass transition temperatures of 243.0-260.4 degrees C. The initial degradation temperatures of these pho-PARs are all above 450 degrees C and their char yields at 800 degrees C under nitrogen atmosphere are in the range of 28.7-33.0%, suggesting they have excellent thermal stability. The results of TG-FTIR and FT-IR show the introduction of BCPPO change the decomposition model of the pho-PARs. The limiting oxygen indexes are at a range of 30.7-34.5%, which suggests that the pho-PARs are a kind of excellent inherent flame retardant materials. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 3521-3529, 2013