A polyrotaxane in which beta-cyclodextrins (beta-CDs) are threaded onto a polyether chain was prepared by polycondensation of a beta-CD/bisphenol A (BPA) inclusion complex with aromatic dihalides. Two dihalides, with and without a side chain, were used. This polycondensation results in a polyrotaxane (or pseudopolyrotaxane for polymers without stoppers) with a 1:1 threading ratio when the side chain is present and 2:3 when there is none. The long side chain prevents dethreading of the macrocycles. The best yield and a good threading ratio were obtained when the polycondensation was performed by liquid-solid phase transfer catalysis without solvent (L/S PTC) using 2,5-bi(iodomethyl)-4-methoxy-(1-octyloxy)benzene as dihalide. The H-1 NMR and FTIR spectra show that the products consist of beta-CD and polyether. The 2D NOESY NMR spectrum shows that the polyether chains are included in the beta-CD cavity. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4391-4399, 2009