Poly(arylene ether)s (3) containing pendant benzoyl groups were prepared by the aromatic substitution reaction of 2,5-difluoro-4-benzoylbenzophenone (2) with hydroquinone (1a) and methylhydroquinone (1b) in the presence of potassium carbonate in N,N-dimethylacetamide. The polycondensation proceeded smoothly at 165 degrees C and produced poly(arylene ether)s with inherent viscosities up to 0.8 dL/g. The polymer (3b) derived from methylhydroquinone was quite soluble in common organic solvents and could be processed into uniform films from solutions. On the other hand, the polymer (3a) derived from hydroquinone was only soluble in pentafluorophenol and methanesulfonic acid and had a high crystallinity. These polymers showed 10% weight losses at around 420 and 490 degrees C in nitrogen. Polymer 3b also showed good tensile strength and tensile moduli.