Two dianiline monomers were prepared by the reaction of either 4,4 ' -methylenedianiline or 4,4 ' -oxydianiline with 1,4-benzoquinone. These monomers were used to synthesize a series of amine-quinone polyimides by condensation with either 3,3 ' ,4,4 ' -benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride or 4,4 '-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride to make the corresponding polyamic acid. The polyamic acids were converted to the polyimides by thermal imidization at 290 degreesC. The amino-quinone polyimides gave freestanding films with tensile strengths in the range of 90 to 150 MPa and Young's moduli of 0.9 to 1.5 GPa. The thermal decomposition temperature under nitrogen was 440 to 480 degreesC and the glass-transition temperature was in the range of 280 to 310 degreesC. The amine-quinone polyimides had the excellent thermal and mechanical properties that one expects for polyimides.