The gas permeability and permselectivity properties were investigated of polyimides, prepared from 3,3’,4,4’- and 2,2’,3,3’-thiaphthalic dianhydride (p-TDPA and m-TDPA, respectively), or 1,4-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)- and 1,4-bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy) benzene dianhydride (p-HQDPA and m-HQDPA, respectively), and 4,4-oxydianiline. The polyimides prepared from meta-dianhydrides, which have lower chain-segment packing density, possess higher permeability and lower permselectivity than those prepared from para-dianhydrides.