Palladium-catalyzed carbonylation of 4-iodoaniline in the presence of 1,3,5,7-tetrakis(4-iodophenyl) adamantane and 1,3,5,7-tetrakis(4-aminophenyl) adamantane cores gave the corresponding four-armed star polybenzamides. Tetraphenyladamantane incorporation was confirmed by C-13 solution and solid-state CP/MAS NMR and FTIR. The stars exhibited the same thermal stability as linear polybenzamide synthesized by the same route. The star with the amine core exhibited the highest intrinsic viscosity in sulfuric acid ([eta] = 0.74 dL/g), and films could be cast from dilute DMAC-5% LiCl solutions. Tetraphenyladamantane incorporation (confirmed by solid-state CP/MAS C-13 NMR and FTIR) significantly increased solubility. Branched aramids synthesized from 3,5-dibromoaniline under Pd-catalyzed carbonylation conditions were compared to a branched system based on 1,3,5,7-tetrakis(4-iodophenyl)adamantane The former were insoluble, while the adamantane materials were slightly soluble in DMAc and H2SO4; both hyperbranched polymers tenaciously held residual solvent and could not be completely dried. These results confirm both the incorporation of the tetrasubstituted adamantyl core into both star and hyperbranched polymers and the possibility of property modification through disruption of chain packing and enforced tetrahedral arm orientation at the core.