Two novel fluorinated phenyethynyl-contained endcapping agents, 4-(3-trifluoromethyl-1-phenylethynyl)phthalic anhydride (3F-PEPA) and 4-(3,5-bistrifluoromethyl-1-phenylethynyl)phthalic anhydride (6F-PEPA) were synthesized, which were employed to synthesize two fluorinated model compounds, N-phenyl-4(3-trifluoromethyl)-phenylethynylphthalimide (3F-M) and N-phenyl-4(3,5-bitrifluoromethyl)-phenylethynyl phthalimide (6F-M). The thermal cure kinetics of 3F-M and 6F-M were analyzed using DSC and compared to the unfluorinated derivative, N-phenyl-4-phenylethynylphthalimide (PEPA-M). The thermal cure temperatures of 3F-M and 6F-M were 399 and 412 degrees C, which were 22 and 35 degrees C higher than that of PEPA-M, respectively. The thermal cure kinetics of 3F-M and 6F-M best fit a first-order rate law, although 3F-M and 6F-M reacted slower than PEPA-M. However, the exothermic enthalpy of 3F-M and 6F-M were only half of PEPA-M. Based on the model compounds study, a series of fluorinated phenylethynyl-terminated imide oligomers (F-PETIs) with different calculated molecular weights (Calc'd M-n) were synthesized by thermal polycondensation of 2,3,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (a-BPDA) and 3,4'-oxydianiline (3,4'-ODA) using 3F-PEPA or 6F-PEPA as the endcapping agent. The substituent effects of the trifluoromethyl (-CF3) groups on the thermal cure behavior and melt processability of F-PETIs were systematically investigated. Experimental results reveal that the melt processability of F-PETI was apparently improved by the reduced resin melt viscosities and the enhanced melt stability due to the incorporation of the -CF3 groups in the imide backbone. All of those F-PETIs exhibit outstanding thermal and mechanical properties. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.