Abstract: A crosslinkable aromatic polyester that contains a combination of biphenyl repeating units and aromatic ester repeating units is provided. The aromatic polyester can be generally soluble or dispersible in certain solvents, which allows for the polyester to be formed into a solution and thereafter formed into a film. The crosslinkable aromatic polyester also contains one or more alkynyl functional groups (e.g., end groups, side-chain groups, pendant groups, etc.), which can function as a crosslinking agent. Because it is generally soluble in certain solvent systems, the aromatic polyester can be readily formed into a film using solution-based techniques (e.g., casting) and then crosslinked to impart a higher degree of heat resistance to the polymer.