Four novel 2 trifluoromethyl activated bisfluoro mono mers have been synthesized successfully using a Suzuki coupling reaction of 3 trifluoromethyl 4 fluoro phenyl boronic acid with 2 7 dibromofluorene with varied pendants Four monomers were converted to a series of fluorene based poly(arylene ether)s with pendants by nucleophilic displacement of the fluorine atoms on the terminal benzene ring with 4 4' hexafluo roisopropylidenediphenol The polymers obtained by displacement of the fluorine atoms exhibit weight average molecular weight up to 989 x 10(4) g/mol in GPC Thermal analysis studies indicated that these polymers did not show melting endotherms but did show relatively high T-g values up to 270 degrees C in DSC and outstanding thermal stability up to 532 degrees C for 5% weight loss in TGA in a nitrogen atmosphere The polymers are soluble in a wide range of organic solvents THF CHCl3 NMP DMAc DMF toluene and EAc and so forth at room temperature Transparent and flexible films were easily prepared by solution casting from chloroform solution of each of the polymers (C) 2010 Wiley Peri odicals Inc J Polym Sci Part A Polym Chem 48 5872-5884 2010