A new copper-containing Schiff-base diamine, benzil bis(thiosemicarbazonato)copper(IT) (CuLH4), was synthesized in two steps from benzil bisthiosemicarbazone (LH6). The ligand LH6 and the complex CuLH4 were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, H-1-NMR, and elemental analysis. CuLH4 was used to prepare novel polyamides. The low-temperature solution polycondensation of the complex CuLH4 with various aromatic and aliphatic diacid chlorides afforded copper-containing Schiff-base polyamides with inherent viscosities of 0.25-0.36 dL/g in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and 0.75 dL/g in H2SO4 at 25 degrees C. The polyamides were generally soluble in a wide range of solvents, such as DMF, N,N-dimethylacetamide, tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl sulfoxide, ethyl acetate, tetrachloroethane, hexamethylene phosphoramide, N-methylpyrrolidone, and pyridine. Thermal analysis showed that these polyamides were practically amorphous, decomposed above 270 degrees C, and exhibited 50% weight loss at and above 400 degrees C. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.