2,7-Dibromo-9,9-dioctylfluorene was synthesized by a two-step reaction from fluorene and n-octylboromide. This was reacted with benzamide for the preparation of a model compound and with terephthalamide, isophthalmide, and adipamide for the preparation of polyamides in the presence of a mixture of 10 mol % CuI and 20 mol N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine as a catalyst and K2CO3 as a base. The monomer and the model compound were characterized with Fourier transform infrared, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, and elemental analysis. The prepared polyamides were characterized with Fourier transform infrared, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and solubility and viscosity measurements. The obtained polyamides possessed excellent solubility in common organic solvents, and they exhibited inherent viscosities in the range of 0.93-1.19 dL/g. According to the differential scanning calorimetry analysis, the glass-transition temperatures of the polyamides were in the range of 89-154 degrees C. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that a 2% weight loss of the polyamides occurred in the temperature range of 218-253 degrees C under a nitrogen atmosphere. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 111: 1588-1593, 2009