Relatively high molecular weight polyamines with aromatic nitro groups in the repeat units were prepared by the reactions of aliphatic diamines, and 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, at elevated temperatures in diphenyl sulfone. The physical characteristics, including solubility, thermal stability, and viscosity of the resulting polyamines were found to be strongly dependent on the aliphatic chain length of the diamines used. All polymers exhibited exceptional solvent resistance. Except for strong acids with bulky counter-ions, including sulfuric, perchloric, and nitric acids, the polymers were found to be insoluble in all common organic solvents at room temperature. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.