A cyanate ester system is disclosed. An aryl ether oligomer may be made from a dihydroxyaromatic compound and a dihaloaromatic compound in the presence of a base. The oligomer is then reacted with a cyanide compound in the presence of a base to form the cyanate ester shown below. The cyanate ester may then be cross-linked to a thermoset having triazine ring cross-links. ##STR00001##