A series of novel triphenylamine-containing aromatic polyamides and polyimides having a crank and twisted noncoplanar structures were synthesized in inherent viscosities of 0.14-0.64 dL/g and 0.11-0.67 dL/g, respectively. These polymers had useful levels of thermal stability associated with relatively high glass-transition temperatures (174-311 degrees C). They exhibited strong UV-Vis absorption bands at around 300 nm in NMP solutions. The PL spectra of these polymers in NMP solutions (I x 10(-5) M) showed maximum peaks around 396-479 nm. The bole-transporting and electrochromic properties were examined by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) of the polymer films cast onto an indium-tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrate exhibited two reversible oxidation redox couples at potentials of 0.70-1.01 V and 1.10-1.46 V, respectively, vs. Ag/AgCl in acetonitrile solution. The polymer films revealed electrochromic characteristics, with a color change from neutral pale yellowish to green and then to a blue oxidized form at applied potentials ranging from 0.00 to 1.75 V. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.