Abstract4,4′‐Diaminobenzanilide (DAB) was reacted with diacids via the Yamazaki phosphorylation reaction to yield simple polyamides and random copolyamides. The use of DAB was found to promote polycondensation because DAB contains a preformed amide linkage which minimizes the amounts of by‐products formed. It also maximizes polymer solubility since the monomer is unsymmetrical. The order of the inherent viscosity values of the polymers obtained from DAB by reaction with different diacids, isophthalic>aliphatic>terephthalic, was found to parallel polymer solubility in the reaction medium. The inherent viscosity of the polyamide based on terephthalic acid, DAB‐T, was increased greatly by copolymerization, isophthalic acid being more effective than an aliphatic diacid in this regard. None of the polymers formed a thermotropic nematic phase, but the copolymer having an equimolar ratio of terephthalic and adipic acid formed anisotropic solutions in 100% sulfuric acid at polymer concentrations exceeding 40%. Strong films were cast from such so