PURPOSE: The title polyimide which has a high glass transition temperature and can give a film excellent in heat resistance, solvent resistance and chemical resistance, obtained by reacting at least two aromatic tetracarboxylic acids with an aromatic diamine compound, etc., and a maleic acid, etc.

CONSTITUTION: The title polyimide having a maleimide structure or a group which can generate a maleimide structure upon heating at a molecular terminal is obtained by reacting, with heating, at least two compounds (A) belonging to different aromatic tetracarboxylic acids [e.g., a combination of a pyromellitic acid and 3, 3', 4, 4'-biphenylsulfonetetracarboxylic acid (and 3, 3', 4, 4'- benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid)] with an aromatic diamine or a diisocyanate compound of any one of formulas IWIV [wherein R1 is O, S, CO or C(CH2)n (wherein n is 1W4), or the like R3 is CH2, O, S or the like, R4 is alkyl, alkoxy, a halogen or the like and the two X's are both amino or isocyanate groups] and a maleic acid or a dicarboxylic acid which can form a maleic acid upon heating (e.g., maleic anhydride) in a phenolic solvent.