A new diamine containing a bulky diphenylquinoxalin pendant, 3,5-diamino-N-(2,3-diphenylquinoxalin-7-yl)benzamide (DQB), was synthesized in four steps through the nucleophilic aromatic substitution of 3,5-dinitrobenzoylchloride with 2,3-diphenylquinoxalin-6-amine and subsequent catalytic reduction. All intermediates and DQB were fully characterized by FTIR, NMR and elemental analysis. A series of polyamides PA(a-e) was synthesized from this diamine by direct poly condensation with various dicarboxylic acids, triphenyl phosphate and pyri-dine in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidynone (NMP). Three polyimides PI(a-c) were synthesized from this diamine using commercial dianhydrides in two-step polycondensation. Characterization of polymers was accomplished by FTIR, H NMR, elemental analysis, DSC, DMTA, GPC, and TGA. The intrinsic viscosities of PAs ranged from 0.54 to 0.67 dL/g. PAs displayed $T_g$ values of 140-$298^{circ}C$ and 10% weight loss of 415-$485^{circ}C$ in $N_2$. The $T_g$ values of the PIs varied between 200 and $310^{circ}C$, with 10% weight loss above $500^{circ}C$ in $N_2$. The PAs were soluble in common polar aprotic solvents at room temperature whereas the aromatic PIs were dissolved by heating at $60^{circ}C$.