Poly(aralkyl maleimide) (PAMI) and poly(glycidyl ether of aralkyl novolac) resin (PANE) with phenylmethylene units were synthesized from the intermediates poly(aralkyl amino) resin (PAAR) and poly(aralkyl novolac) resin (PANR), which were obtained from the reactions of p-xylylene glycol with aniline or phenol, respectively. The oligomers were characterized by H-1-NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and potentiometry. The corresponding PAMI and PANE were cured with 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) at an equal equivalent ratio, and their curing behaviors were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The reaction involved a major chain extension and a minor homopolymerization. The thermal, mechanical, and electric properties of the PAMI-DDM system were better than that of those PANE-DDM system. Furthermore, the PAMI-DDM has a low internal stress. (C) Wiley Periodicals, Inc.