Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of poly(aryl ether) polymers by reacting, in the absence of dipolar aprotic solvents, an alkali metal double salt of a dihydric phenol with a dihalobenzenoid compound in the presence of a macro bicyclic compound having nitrogen bridgehead atoms linked together by three hydrocarbon bridging chains having in each of the hydrocarbon bridging chains at least one additional hetro atom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms.The poly(aryl ether) polymer resins produced by the process have a low degree of coloration and excellent mechanical and electrical properties which allow them to be molded into a variety of articles.