The results of investigations of the synthesis and properties of poly(arylene ether ketones) prepared by electrophilic and nucleophilic substitution reactions are generalized and described systematically. Data on the effect of the polycondensation conditions on the molecular weight and properties of polymers are considered. A scientific knowledge about the effect of the synthesis conditions and the chemical structure of poly(arylene ether ketones) on their proper ties enabled the directed synthesis of polymers. Such polymers possess a complex of valuable performance (high thermal stability, good heat, chemical and mechanical resistance combined with unique specific impact strength), engineering, and new electrophysical properties. Key words: polycondensation, poly(arylene ether ketones), poly(arylene ketones), electro philic and nucleophilic substitution reactions, cardo polymers, high performance thermoplas tics, specific impact strength, effect of reversible electrical switching under external effects, random and block copolymers, chemical transformations. The origin and history of research on the linear poly condensation in the USSR date back to the late 1930s and the 1940-1950s. These studies were initiated by P. P. Shorygin and were carried out by V. V. Korshak and S. R. Rafikov first in the N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (nowa days, ZIOC RAS) and then in the A. N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (nowadays, INEOS RAS). Later on, these studies were successfully developed by the scien tific school founded by V. V. Korshak in INEOS AS USSR and in the new center of scientific research on polycon densation in the Institute of Chemistry of the Bashkir Sci entific Center of the Ural Branch of the Academy of Sci * The review is dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the A. N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds of the Rus sian Academy of Sciences.