Three isomeric bis(thioether anhydride) monomers, 4,4'-bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenylthio) diphenyl ketone dianhydride (3,3'-PTPKDA), 4,4'-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenylthio) diphenyl ketone dianhydride (4,4'-PTPKDA), and 4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenylthio)-4'-(3,4-dicarboxyphenylthio) diphenyl ketone dianhydride (3,4'-PTPKDA), were prepared through multistep reactions. Their structures were determined via Fourier transform infrared, NMR, and elemental analysis. Three series of polyimides (PIs) were prepared from the obtained isomeric dianhydrides and aromatic diamines in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) via the conventional two-step method. The PIs showed excellent solubility in common organic solvents such as chloroform, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and NMP. Their glass-transition temperatures decreased according to the order of PIs on the basis of 3,3'-PTPKDA, 3,4'-PTPKDA, and 4,4'-PTPKDA. The 5% weight loss temperatures (T(5%)) of all PIs in nitrogen were observed at 504-519 degrees C. The rheological properties of isomeric PI resins based on 3,3'-PTPKDA/4,4'-oxydianiline/phthalic anhydride showed lower complex viscosity and better melt stability compared with the corresponding isomers from 4,4'- and 3,4'-PTPKDA. In addition, the PI films based on three isomeric dianhydrides and 2,2'-bis(trifluoromethyl) benzidine had a low moisture absorption of 0.27-0.35%. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 49: 2484-2494, 2011