A CF3-containing diamine, 4,4'-bis(4-amino2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)benzophenone (2), was synthesized from 4,4'-dihydroxybenzophenone and 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzotrifluoride. Imide-containing diacids (3 and 5B(a)-5B(g)) were prepared by the condensation reaction of aromatic diamines and trimellitic anhydride. Then, two series of novel soluble aromatic poly(amide imide)s (PAIs; 6A(a)-6A(k) and 6B(a)-6B(g)) were synthesized from a diamine (4A(a)-4A(k) or 2) with the imide-containing diacids (3 and 5B(a)-5B(g)) via direct polycondensation with triphenyl phosphate and pyridine. The aromatic PAIs had inherent viscosities of 0.74-1.76 dL/g. All of the synthesized polymers showed excellent solubility in amide-type solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and afforded transparent and tough films by DMAc solvent casting. These polymer films had tensile strengths of 90-113 MPa, elongations at break of 8-15%, and initial moduli of 2.0-2.9 GPa. The glasstransition temperatures of the aromatic PAIs were in the range 242-279 degrees C. They had 10% weight losses at temperatures above 500 degrees C and showed excellent thermal stabilities. The 6B series exhibited less coloring and showed lower yellowness index values than the corresponding 6A series. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.