A series of quaternized poly(arylene ether sulfone)s containing up to two pendant quaternary ammonium groups per repeat unit was prepared by cesium carbonate mediated direct aromatic nucleophilic substitution polycondensation of 2,2'-dimethylaminemethylene-4,4'-biphenol (DABP), 4.4'-biphenol (BP) and 4,4'-difluorodiphenylsulfone (DFDPS), followed by reaction with iodomethane. The anion exchange membranes formed from these polymers showed conductivities above 10(-2) S cm(-1) at room temperature with a hydroxide conductivity of 6.5 x 10(-2) S cm(-1) for QNPS-OH-80. At the test of alkaline stability, these poly(arylene ether sulfone) ionomers were more stable than our previous reported partially fluorinated poly(arylene ether sulfone) ionomers under highly basic conditions. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.