Aromatic polyamides were obtained by the direct polycondensation reaction of a new monomer containing a 6,6′-sulfonediquinoline unit with various aromatic diamines. The polymers were characterised by elemental, infrared, wide angle X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis. The polyamides, possessed inherent viscosities in the range 0.24 - 0.43 dl g-1, 10% weight loss in nitrogen and air above 410°C and glass transition temperatures in the range 170-220°C. The polyamides obtained by reaction with 4,4′-methylenedianiline and 4,4′-sulfonyldianiline were soluble on heating in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and partially soluble in dimethylacetamide. Solubility and thermal properties of copolyamides, prepared from the reaction of 4,4′-oxydianiline with the new monomer and the 4,4′-dicarboxydiphenyl sulfone, were also studied.