Functional polyimides have been prepared in a bead form by non-aqueous suspension polycondensation. Molybdenum(VI) complex has been supported on a functional polyimide bead containing a triazole group and used as a catalyst in the liquid-phase epoxidation of olefins with tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP), as oxygen source. The polyimide-supported Mo catalyst was highly active and selective, and has been recycled 10 times with no detectable loss of Mo from the support. ? 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.