A series of new soluble aromatic polyimides with inherent viscosities of 0.65-1.12 dL/g were synthesized from 1,3-bis (4-aminophenyl)-4,5-diphenylimidazolin-2-one and various aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides by the conventional two-step procedure that included ring-opening polyaddition and subsequent thermal cyclodehydration. These polyimides could also be prepared by the one-pot procedure in homogeneous m-cresol solution. Most of the tetraphenyl-pendant polyimides were soluble in organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide, I,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidone, and m-cresol. Some polyimides gave transparent, flexible, and tough films with good tensile properties. The glass transition temperatures and 10% weight loss temperatures under nitrogen of the polyimides were in the range of 287-326 and 520-580 degrees C, respectively.