A heat-resistant and thermoplastic polyimide which has low dielectric characteristics and recurring structural units of the following formula ##STR1## wherein R is a tetravalent radical having from 2 to 27 carbon atoms and selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic radical, alicyclic radical, monoaromatic radical, condensed polyaromatic radical and noncondensed aromatic radical connected each other with a direct bond or a bridge member; aromatic diamines which are useful for the raw material monomers of the polyimide and have following formulas: ##STR2## and ##STR3## and a process for preparing the polyimide of the above formula by reacting these aromatic diamines with a tetracarboxylic dianhydride in the presence of an aromatic dicarboxylic anhydride or aromatic monoamine, and successively thermally or chemically imidizing the resultant polyamic acid.