Reaction of 5-amino-1-naphthol with pyromellitic dianhydride, benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride, and hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalic anhydride afforded aromatic diols with preformed imides structure. High temperature solution polycondensation reactions of the obtained diimide-dinaphthols with aromatic and aliphatic diacid chlorides resulted in preparation of nine different poly(ester-imide)s. They were fully characterized and the physical and thermal properties of the obtained polymer were studied. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.