High performance photoreactive polyimides with various side chains were newly synthesized. These polymes contained phenylvinylpyridine moieties as phtoreactive side chains. The polymers were soluble in common organic solvents, giving a good quality of thin films. For the polymers, photoreactivity and photoaligning ability were investigated. Further, the polymers in films were evaluated as an orientation layer material to control the alignment of liquid-crystals on the surface.