New bisphenol monomer, (4-(4'-trifluoromethyl)phenoxyphenyl)hydroquinone, was prepared in a three-step synthesis. A series of poly(aryl ether ketone)s were derived from this bisphenol via a nucleophilic aromatic substitution polycondensation with various bisfluoro compounds. The polycondensations proceeded quantitatively in tetramethylene sulfone (TMS) in the presence of an excess of potassium carbonate as a condensation reagent were carried out at 210 degrees C to quantitatively afford the corresponding poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing 4,(4'-trifluoromethyl) phenoxyphenyl side chain. Thermal analyses showed that the polymers have T(g)s ranging from 140 to 177 degrees C and thermal stability in air up with initial weight losses above 550 degrees C. The solubility of the polymers was improved by the introduction of bulky pendant group. All the polymers had low dielectric constants of 2.67-2.79 at 1 MHz. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.