Fifteen bis(phenoxy) fluorene-containing poly(amide-imide)s III were synthesized by the direct polycondensation of 9,9-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]fluorene (BAPPF) with var-ious aromatic bis(trimellitimide)s II in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. Poly(amide-imide)s III having inherent vis-cosities up to 1.45 dL/g were obtained in quantitative yields. Most of the resulting polymers showed an amorphous nature and were readily soluble in polar solvents such as NMP and N,N-dimethylacetamide. All the soluble poly(amide-imide)s afforded transparent, flexible, and tough films. The glass transition temperatures of these polymers were in the range of 263–315°C and the 10% weight loss temperatures were above 510°C in nitrogen. Some properties of poly(amide-imide)s III were compared with those of the corresponding isomeric poly(amide-imide)s III ′ prepared from 9,9-[4-(4-trimellitimidophenoxy)phenyl]fluorene and various aromatic diamines. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.