<p>In a process for the preparation of polyimide by reacting a diamine compound with tetracarboxylic dianhydride in a phenol based solvent, an improved process for reacting the diamine compound with tetracarboxylic dianhydride in a solution by forming separate solutions of the tetracarboxylic dianhydride and the diamine compound and mixing the solutions and/or by dissolving tetracarboxylic dianhydride in the phenol-based solvent containing an organic base.</p>