Three novel allyl-maleimide monomers (i.e., A(2)B, AB and AB(2)) were designed, synthesized and thermally cured to yield a series of high-performance allyl-maleimide resins. All the monomers obtained are readily soluble in common organic solvents enabling an easy solution processing. The thermal properties of the three monomers were studied by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A(2)B and AB showed fairly low melting temperature (T-m < 90 degrees C) and wide processing window ranging from 90 degrees C to 260 degrees C. The thermal stability of the cured allyl-maleimide resins (i.e., PA(2)B, PAB and PAB(2)) was studied by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was used to investigate the dynamic mechanical properties of the composites based on the cured allyl-maleimide resins. PA(2)B and PAB(2) showed good glass transition temperatures (T-g > 270 degrees C) and their corresponding composites showed high bending modulus (E' > 1900 MPa). Allyl-compound-modified BMI resins based on AB monomer were prepared. Rheometer revealed that the processability of the prepolymer (BR-AB-pre) was improved by the addition of AB monomer. The cured BMI resins (BR and BR-AB) showed good thermal stability (T-d > 400 degrees C, both in nitrogen and in the air), high glass transition temperature (T-g > 320 degrees C), and good mechanical properties and low water uptake (<2.6%, 120 h). (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.