Abstract: A method for preparing asymmetric 3,4′-(hexafluroisopropylidene) dipthalic anhydride (a-6FDA) and asymmetric 3,4′-(methylene)diphthalic anhydride (a-MDPA) from asymmetric 2,3,3′,4′-benzophenone dianhydride (a-BTDA). First, a-BTDA is converted to its corresponding N-alkyl or N-phenyl bisimides by reacting with either methylamine or aniline. The sequential addition of two trifluoromethyl (CF.sub.3) groups to the carbonyl unit of a-BTDA produce the corresponding bisimides of asymmetric 6FDA, whi…