A series of poly(ether imide)s (PEIs), IIIa-k, with light color and good physical properties were prepared from 1,4-bis(3,4-dicarboxypheoxy)-2,5-di-tert-butylbenzene dianhydride (1) with various aromatic diamines (IIa-k) via a conventional two-stage procedure that included a ring-opening polyaddition to yield poly(amic acid)s (PAA), followed by thermal imidization to the PEI. The intermediate PAA had inherent viscosities in the range of 1.00-1.53 dL g(-1). Most of the PEIs showed excellent solubility in chlorinated solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, and m-cresol, but did not easily dissolve in dimethyl sulfoxide and amide-type polar solvents. The III series had tensile strengths of 96-116 MPa, an elongation at break of 7-8%, and initial moduli of 2.0-2.5 GPa. The glass-transition temperatures (T-g) and softening temperatures (T-S's) of the III series were recorded between 232 and 285 degreesC and 216-279 degreesC, respectively. The decomposition temperatures for 10% weight loss all occurred above 511 degreesC in nitrogen and 487 degreesC in air. The III series showed low dielectric constants (2.71-3.54 at 1 MHz), low moisture absorption (0.18-0.66 wt %), and was light-colored with a cutoff wavelength below 380 nm and a low yellow index (b*) values of 7.3-14.8. (C) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.