A compliant polyimide having superior thermal-mechanical properties can be produced by reacting an aromatic bis(furfurylimide) with an aliphatic ether bis(maleimide) via a Diels-Alder reaction. These polyimides display a long-term thermal-oxidative stability and a high percent recoverable elongation to break, and they are suitable for use as films, fibers, coatings, adhesives, structures, and sealants.