Reaction of 5-amino-1-naphthol with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), and hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) afforded aromatic diols with preformed imide structure. High temperature solution polycondensation reactions of the obtained diimide-dinaphthols with aromatic and aliphatic diacid chlorides resulted in the preparation of nine different poly(ester-imide)s. These were fully characterized, and the physical and thermal properties of the obtained polymer were studied. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.