Two diamine monomers, 4-[4-(1-methyl-1-phenyl)phenoxy]-1,3-(diamino benzene and 4-{-[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]phenoxy}-1,3-diamino benzene, were synthesized, and both diamines were polycondensed with three commercial dianhydrides to obtain aromatic polyimides containing pendant groups. The polyimides were characterized by solubility tests, viscosity measurements, IR, H-1-NMR, and C-13- NMR spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction studies, and thermogravimetric analysis. The polymides had inherent viscosities of 0.33-0.58 dL/g in m-cresol at 30 +/- 0.1 degrees C. All the polyimides were amorphous and were soluble in solvents such as NNdimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylformamide, and in-cresol. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polymides indicated no weight loss below 410 degrees C under a nitrogen atmosphere. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.