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This paper describes a totally new method for the formation of high molecular weight aromatic polymers. High molecular weight polyarylethersulfones are produced by nickel catalyzed coupling of aryl dichloride monomers. Metallic zinc is used to drive the polymerization reaction which takes place under relatively mild conditions in the presence of triphenylphosphine and a dipolar aprotic solvent. The versatility of the reaction is demonstrated, as well as the ability to provide a variety of high temperature polymers from readily available and inexpensive monomers. It is possible to use an integrated two‐step process to produce aryl dichlorides from inexpensive aryl chlorides, and then to couple these directly to polymer without need for isolation and purification. This process resulted from a fundamental understanding of the chemistry and the use of statistically designed experiments to identify the important reaction parameters and to optimize the degree of polymerization.

A new method for the reduction of a variety of organic halides has been developed. The reaction takes place under mild conditions and employs water, zinc, and a catalytic amount of nickel chloride, triphenylphosphine, and iodide ion. The reduction of p-chloroanisole by this method was investigated in some detail. The reaction rate was first order in nickel and aryl halide but independent of the water concentration. A brief mechanism of this reaction is presented.

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