An aromatic ether oligomer or polyaromatic ether comprising the formula:
##STR1##
wherein Ar is an independently selected divalent aromatic radical; formed
by reacting a dihydroxyaromatic with a dihaloaromatic; and wherein the reaction
is performed in the presence of a copper compound and cesium carbonate. The polyaromatic
ether is formed when neither the dihydroxyaromatic nor the dihaloaromatic is present
in an excess amount. The aromatic ether oligomer is formed by using an excess of
either dihydroxyaromatic or dihaloaromatic. A phthalonitrile monomer comprising
the formula:
##STR2##
formed by reacting a 3- or 4-nitrophthalonitrile with a hydroxy-terminated
aromatic ether oligomer. A thermoset formed by curing the phthalonitrile monomer.
Processes for forming all the above.
