Hydroquinone bis(trimellitic anhydride) (HQ-TA) was synthesized from trimellitic anhydride chloride and hydroquinone. Poly(amic acid)s (PAAs) were synthesized by reacting a HQ-TA with six different diamines, which were cyclized to yield polyimides (PIs) containing ester linkages by chemical- and thermal-imidization methods. The various PIs were synthesized from structurally different aromatic diamines. The glass transition temperatures ($T_g$) were in the range of 167-$215^{circ}C$, and the decomposition temperatures (${T_D}^i$) were in the range of $364-451^{circ}C$. The maximum improvements in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and barrier to oxygen permeation were observed in PIs using TFB (3.23 $ppm/^{circ}C$) and 4,4-ODA (< $10^{-2}cc/m^2/day$), respectively. The PI films possessed a transmittance of 65-89% at 500 nm and had a yellowish color with a yellow index (YI) of 3.01-69.52.