This work synthesizes new adamantane-based polyimides by reacting 1,3-bis[4-(4-amino-phenoxy)phenyl]adamantane (4) with various aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides. The poly(amic acid)s have number-average molecular weights (M-n) of 39 000-139 000. The M-n’s of soluble polyimides 7(d) and 7(e) are 108 000 and 89 000, respectively. These films have low dielectric constants ranging from 2.77 to 2.91 and low moisture absorptions of less than 0.46%. Two of these polyimides have good solubilities, and even nonfluorinated polyimide 7(e) can be soluble in chloroform. All polyimides 7 formed tough and transparent films. These films have tensile strengths of 88.2-113.5 MPa, elongations to break of 5.6-12.5%, and initial moduli of 2.0-2.2 GPa. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) reveals that adamantane-based polyimides have two relaxations on the temperature scale between 0 and 350 degrees C. The subglass relaxations of polyimides 7 do not occur at the same temperature; instead, they range from 100 to 175 degrees C. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and DMA reveal their glass transition temperatures (T-g’s) were found to be 232-330 and 262-343 degrees C, respectively These T-g’s lie in a manageable temperature range for processing in melt.