Novel fluorenyl cardo chain-extended bis-maleimides (FCCEBMIs) were synthesized by reacting maleic anhydride with fluorenyl cardo diamine and different dianhydrides. FCCEBMIs were characterized by FT-IR spectra (FT-IR), H-1 NMR, and elemental analysis. All FCCEBMI monomers were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, N,N-dimethyl acetamide, chloroform (CHCl3), methylene chloride (CH2O2), dimethyl sulfoxide, and tetrahydrofuran when compared with 9,9-bis(4-maleimidophenyl) fluorene. Curing process was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. Thermal properties of the cured FCCEBMIs were characterized by thermogravimetry analysis, the cured products are stable up to 430 degrees C. The results show that the FCCEBMIs with imide structure improve significantly the solubility of bismaleimide (BMI) in organic solvents without sacrificing thermal properties of cured BMIS. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.