bis imides of the present invention are useful as monomers and or additives in the formulation or preparation of various polymers for example the present bis imides may be employed in the preparation of polyetherimides through an imide amine exchange reaction catalyzed by a basic catalyst such as an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or basic compounds thereof such as hydroxides oxides hydrides carbonates and the like in the process a mixture of equal molar amounts of the dioxy diphthalic bis imide of formula 1 and an organic diamine are heated to the molten state in the presence of the basic catalyst to effect the imide amine reaction the process may be carried out under reduced pressure to facilitate the removal of the mono organic amine and the formation of the polyetherimide suitable organic diamines include for example those of the formula nh 2 r nh 2 where r is a divalent organic radical such as an alkylene or aromatic radical additional details regarding suitable diamines as well as suitable catalysts and general process conditions are set forth in u s pat no 3 847 870 in an alternate process bis imides compounds of the present invention such as compounds of formula i wherein z is str14 may be reacted with a dihydroxy compound such as a diphenol or a bis phenol compound to form a polyetherimide for example the bis imide of formula i where z is str15 may be reacted with.