A new fluorinated poly(ether amide) bearing xanthene group was prepared from 9,9-bis[4-(2-trifluoromethyl-4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]xanthene (BTFAPX) with 9,9-bis[4-(4-carboxyphenoxy)phenyl]xanthene (BCAPX) in the presence of triphenyl phosphate and pyridine (Py). The polymer had the weight-average molecular weight (M(w)) of 69,000 and number-average molecular weight (M(n)) of 39,000, showed the glass transition temperature (T(g)) of 267 degrees C, 5% weight loss temperature (T(d5)) over 460 degrees C both in N(2) and air, and char yield of 62% at 800 degrees C in N(2). This polymer was amorphous and readily soluble in amide-type solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and even in m-cressol, Py and tetrahydrofuran (THF) at room temperature, and exhibited tensile strength of 74 MPa, elongation at break of 6%, tensile moduli of 2.2 GPa. The polymer had low dielectric constant of 3.69 (100 Hz), low moisture absorption of 0.56%, and high transparency with an ultraviolet visible absorption cut-off wavelength at 334 nm. (C) 2010 Shou Ri Sheng. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.