To prepare novel polyimides with enhanced thermal stability and high solubility in common organic solvents, diamine monomers, 4-aryl-2,6 bis-(4-amino phenyl)pyridine, were introduced. The diamines were reacted with three different conventional aromatic dianhydrides including pyromellitic dianhydride, benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride, and hexafluoroisopropylidene-2,2-bis(phthalic-dianhydride) (6FDA) in dimethylacetamide solvent to obtain the corresponding polyimides via the polyamic acid precursors and chemical imidization. The monomers and polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, H-1 NMR, mass spectroscopy, and elemental analysis; and the best condition of polymerization and imidization were obtained via the study of model compound. The polyimides showed little or no weight loss by thermogravimetric analysis up to 500 degreesC, and those derived from 6FDA exhibited good solubility in various polar solvents.