Symmetrical aramid oligomers have been synthesized by dehalogenative polycondensation of two aryl dibromides containing primary amide structural units as monomers in the presence of electrogenerated zerovalent nickel acting as a catalyst. As the oligomers obtained were insoluble in organic solvents, they were characterized by solid-state n.m.r. spectroscopy, infra-red spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Analysis of the monomer and oligomer samples by X-ray diffraction shows that these symmetrical materials possess a better crystallinity than the related unsymmetrical compounds.