A general method for the preparation of aromatic poly(ether ketone)s containing amide, amide-imide, cyano, oxadiazole, and pyridazine moieties has been developed. Polymerization is based on a ketone-activated halide displacement from amide-, amide-imide-, cyano-, oxadiazole-, or pyridazine-containing bis(4-fluorobenzoyl) moieties by bisphenoxides in a polar aprotic solvent. The bis(4-fluorobenzoyl) moieties were prepared by reaction of 4-fluorobenzoyl chloride with diphenoxy monomers containing amide, amide-imide, cyano, oxadiazole, or pyridazine groups under modified Friedel-Crafts conditions in methylene chloride. All of the polyether ketones prepared were amorphous and exhibited T(g)s ranging from 134 to 218 degrees C. In addition, films of the aromatic polyether ketones displayed good thermal stability and flexibility. The dielectric constants of the films were characterized as a function of relative humidity (RH).