A series of novel polyimides (PIS) (3a-d) were prepared from 3,3',5,5'-tetramethyl-4,4'-diaminodipbenyl-4 ''-isopropyltoluene (1) with four aromatic dianhydrides via a one-step high temperature polycondensation procedure. The obtained PIS showed excellent solubility, with most of them dissoluble at a concentration of 10 wt % in amide polar solvents and chlorinated solvents. Their films were nearly colorless and exhibited high-optical transparency, with the UV cutoff wavelength in the range of 328-353 nm and the transparency at 450 nm >80%. They also showed low-dielectric constant (2.49-2.94 at 1 MHz) and low-water absorptions (0.44-0.65%). Moreover, these PIS possessed high-glass transition temperatures (T-g) beyond 327 degrees C and excellent thermal stability with 10% weight loss temperatures in the range of 530-555 degrees C in nitrogen atmosphere. In comparison with some fluorinated poly(ether imide)s derived from the trifluoromethyl-substituted bis(ether amine)s, the resultant PIS 3a-d showed better solubility, lower cutoff wavelength, and higher T-g. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3309-3317, 2009