The structure of the high-performance aromatic polyamides, also known as aramids, was modified to render functional polymers by the introduction of primary amine and azide functional groups in the main polymer chain. These materials were prepared as parent polymers for future use in the simple and inexpensive preparation of other high-performance materials by the chemical derivatization of the primary amine and azide groups using their well-known and broad reactivity. The potential of the parent aramids was exemplified with the preparation of four novel functional aramids containing the fluorescent dansyl group, the anion and cation receptors urea and triazole with free primary alcohol functional groups, and the iminophosphorane ligand for forthcoming synthetic processes. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 1469-1477