Polyethers were synthesized by the reaction of various bisphenols with 1,6-dibromohexane in NaOH (aq)-nitrobenzene using tetrabutylphosphonium bromide as a phase transfer catalyst. The effects of catalysts bisphenol structure, and base concentration were studied and compared with our earlier results. The catalytic activity of the catalysts in the present polymerization was in the order of tetrabutylphosphonium bromide> tetrabutyl-ammonium bromide>dibenzo-18-crown-6. The reactivity of the bisphenols decreased in the order, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane> bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfide>bis(4-hydroxy-phenyl)ketone>bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfone. The polymer yield increased when excess NaOH wag used. A distribution study revealed that there is a reasonable correlation between the degree of anion partitioning into nitrobenzene and the polymer yield.

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