A series of novel polyimides based on N,N-di(4-aminophenyl)-1-aminopyrene and aromatic or alicyclic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides were synthesized. The polymers exhibited good solubility in many polar organic solvents and could afford robust films via solution casting. The polyimides derived from aromatic dianhydrides exhibited high thermal stability and high glass-transition temperatures (333-364 degrees C). Cyclic voltammetry studies of the polymer films showed that these polyimides are both p and n dopable and have multicolored electrochromic states. For the polyimides derived from alicyclic dianhydrides, they revealed a strong blue-light emission with high fluorescence quantum yields (Phi(PL) > 45%) and a marked solvatochromic behavior. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 49: 2210-2221, 2011