Abstract: A bis(disubstitutedmaleimide) derivative and a polyetherimide for optical communications and the polyetherimide formed therefrom are described. The polyetherimde has a high refractive index, so that when using such polyetherimide as a material for a core of an optical fiber, the range of the materials that can be selected for the cladding becomes wide. Also, a coating property and adhesion to a substrate are improved, thereby providing a good film forming property and thermal stability. Also, because the polyetherimide can minimize optical loss at a near infrared wavelength range, the polyetherimide is very useful as an optical material in the optical communications field adopting the light of near infrared wavelength.