2,6-Bis (4-aminophenoxy) pyridine was prepared via reaction of 4-aminophenol with 2,6-dichloropyridine in the presence of potassium carbonate in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). This pyridine-based ether diamine was reacted with two moles of trimellitic anhydride to synthesize related diimide-diacid (DIDA). A high temperature solution polycondensation reaction of DIDA with different diols in the presence of triethylamine hydrochloride in dichlorobenzene resulted in different poly(ether imide ester)s. The monomer and polymers were fully characterized, and the physical and thermal properties of the polymers were studied. (C) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.