Novel pyridine-containing hyperbranched polyimides (HBPIs) were synthesized by using a new triamine 2,4,6-tris[3-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]pyridine with prolonged chain segments, ether linkage and meta-linked units as a BB2-like monomer, various commercial aromatic dianhydrides as A2 monomers. Most of the obtained HBPIs were readily soluble in common organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, m-Cresol, and so forth. Meanwhile, they also had good thermal stability with the glass transition temperatures (Tgs) all above 210 degrees C, the temperature at 10% weight loss of 537.1574.4 degrees C in nitrogen atmosphere. Strong and flexible HBPI films were obtained, which had good mechanical properties with tensile strengths of 83.395.8 MPa, tensile modulus of 1.822.43 GPa and elongations at break of 4.846.98%. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2425-2437