Abstract: | A facile method for the synthesis of high-molecular-weight aromatic polyethers was developed with the use of cesium fluoride as a base. The high-temperature solution polycondensation between bisphenols and activated aromatic dihalides with cesium fluoride in polar aprotic solvents readily afforded a series of aromatic polyethers having inherent viscosities of 0.5–1.0 dL/g under essentially neutral and milder reaction conditions, compared with the conventinal method using alkali hydroxides or alkali carbonates. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 2055–2061, 1997 |