It is established that N-phenylsubstituted aromatic polyamides can be obtained via Chapman rearrangement of polybenzanyliminoesters synthesized by an interaction of bisphenols with imidoylchlorides. The rearrangements in melt or in film occur as a result of heating at 260-340 degrees C, and in a diphenyl ether solution rearrangement occurs at 240 degrees C. The resulting polymers are soluble in organic solvents and demonstrate high thermooxidative stability. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.