Abstract: Poly(vinylbenzyl ethers) of polyphenols are prepared by reacting an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, or ammonium salt of a polyphenol with a vinylbenzyl halide in a liquid reaction medium consisting essentially or a monohydric alcohol or glycol having less than 12 carbons, a polyglycol having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 200 to about 4000, or glycerol.Halide ion content of poly(vinylbenzyl ethers) of polyphenols prepared by the method of this invention and other methods are reduced by dissolving the ether in a solvent that dissolves no more than about 1.0 weight percent of an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, or ammonium halide; separating the ether solution from the halide salt; and then recovering the ether from the solution.