A new type of tetraimide-dicarboxylic acid (1) Was synthesized starting from the ring-opening addition of m-aminobenzoic acid, 4,4'-oxydiphthalic anhydride, and 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane at a 2:2:1 molar ratio in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), followed by cyclodehydration to the diacid I. A series of soluble and light-colored poly(amide-imide-imide)s (IIIa-j) was prepared by triphenyl phosphite-activated polycondensation from I with various aromatic diamines (IIIa-j). All films cast from NN-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) had cutoff wavelengths shorter than 390 nm (374-390 mn) and b* values between 25.26 and 43.61; these polymers were much lighter in color than the alternating trimellitimide series. All of the polymers were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents such as NMP, DMAc, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and even in less polar m-cresol and pyridine. Polymers IIIa-j afforded tough, transparent, and flexible films that had tensile strengths ranging from 96 to 118 MPa, elongations at break from 9 to 11%, and initial moduli from 2.0 to 2.5 GPa. The glass-transition temperatures of the polymers were recorded at 240-268 degreesC. They had 10% weight loss at a temperature above 540 degreesC and left more than 55% residue even at 800 degreesC in nitrogen.