Abstract: Aromatic sulfonates and fiber and film forming polymers containing these sulfonates, the sulfonates being represented by the general formula: ##STR1## WHEREIN R.sub.1 represents either hydrogen or an alkyl radical containing from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms; n, n.sub.1, n.sub.2 and n.sub.3 each independently represent an integer from 0 to about 6, and n.sub.1 + n.sub.2 + n.sub.3 is equal to or greater than 2 if Y and Z both are hydroxy; Y and Z are selected independently from the class consisting of hydroxy, carboxy, and alkoxycarbonyl, the alkoxy portion of which contains from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms; Ar represents a divalent aromatic radical which may be substituted or unsubstituted; m is an integer equal to the valency of the metal; and R represents a divalent radical, with the proviso that where n is O and Ar is phenylene, the metal is lithium.