Aromatic copoly(ether ketone)s composed of 5'-(2'-methoxyphenylen)oxy-4-phenylenecarbonyl and 4"-phenylenoxy-4'-phenylenoxy-4-phenylenecarbonyl units were successfully synthesized via P2O5-MsOH-mediated direct polycondensation of the corresponding carboxylic acids, i.e., 4-(2-methoxyphenoxy)benzoic acid and 4-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)benzoic acid. The aromatic copoly(ether ketone)s bearing methoxy groups thus obtained have prominent adhesion property to steel surface with good thermal stability and high glass transition temperature. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.