dA series of new, organosoluble, and light-colored poly(amide imide imide)s were synthesized from tetraimide dicarboxylic acid (I) and various aromatic diamines by direct polycondensation with triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. I was prepared by the azeotropic condensation of 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride, m-aminobenzoic acid, and 4,4'-oxydianiline at a 2/2/1 molar ratio in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)/ toluene. The thin films cast from N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) had cutoff wavelengths shorter than 400 nm (365-394 nm) and color coordinate b(*) values between 13.10 and 36.07; these polymers were lighter in color than the analogous poly(amide imide)s and isomeric polymers. All of the polymers were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents, including NMP, DMAc, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and even less polar dioxane and tetrahydrofuran. The cast films exhibited tensile strengths of 90-104 MPa, elongations at break of 7-22%, and initial moduli of 1.9-2.4 GPa. The glass-transition temperatures of the polymers were recorded at 274-319degreesC. They had 10% weight losses at temperatures beyond 520degreesC and left more than a 50% residue even at 800degreesC in nitrogen. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.