Several new bisbenzocyclobutene-terminated aromatic imides, 2,2'-bis(N-4-benzocyclobutenyl) phthalimide, 2,2'-bis[4-(N-4-benzocyclobutenylphthalimide)]ether, 2,2'-bis[4-(N-4-benzocyclobutenylphthatimide)]-ketone, and 2,2'-bis[4-(N-4-benzo cyclobutenylphthalimid-4-oxy) phenyl]-proparte, have been synthesized in high yields and characterized by FTIR, MS, EA, and H-1 NMR spectroscopy. The polymers cured from benzocyclobutene-terminated imides have high glass transition temperature and good thermal stabilities. The cure reaction of an imide was studied by FTIR-ATR (attenuated total reflection) and DSC techniques. Apparent kinetic parameters of the cure reaction are obtained. The apparent cure reaction order, activation energy, and pre-exponential factor determined by isothermal DSC method are 1, 143.4 kJ/mol, and 3.88 x 10(13) min(-1), and by nonisothermal DSC methods 1, 139.4 kJ/mol, and 2.27 x 10(13) min(-1), respectively. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.