In　this　study,　four　novel　aromatic　polyimides　(PIs)　with　twisted　backbone　and　bulky　side　substituents　were　prepared　via　chemical　imidization　reaction　and　two-step　condensation　polymerization　at　reduced　reaction　temperature.　The　number-average　and　weight-average　molecular　weights　of　the　resulting　PIs　are　in　the　range　of　1.98　×　104–4.10　×　104　and　2.66　×　104–5.32　×　104　g　mol−1,　respectively,　while　maintaining　polydispersity　indices　consistently　below　2.0.　In　addition,　the　obtained　PIs　showed　excellent　solubility　in　most　common　solvents,　even　in　low-boiling　solvents,　such　as　chloroform,　dichloromethane,　and　tetrahydrofuran.　The　films　casted　from　these　PIs　also　displayed　optical　transparency　with　a　cutoff　wavelength　in　the　range　of　335–360　nm.　Among　the　PIs,　PAPOT-OPDA,　derived　from　3,3′-Diisopropyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl-3″-phenoxybenzylmethane　(PAPOT)　and　3,3′,4,4′-diphenylethertetracarboxylic　dianhydride　(OPDA),　exhibited　the　highest　transparency　of　T450　=　81%　and　T500　=　85%,　and　the　best　solubility　without　compromising　its　thermal　properties.　©　2023　Wiley　Periodicals　LLC.