A novel synthetic method for the preparation of high molecular weight aromatic poly- (etherketone)s is described. N-Alkyl(4-N′,N′-dialkylamino)pyridinium chlorides1,2and3were used as phase-transfer catalysts in polycondensation reactions of 1,4-bis(4-chlorobenzoyl)benzene (4) with aromatic diphenols via nucleophilic displacement. The polycondensations were significantly promoted and, moreover, the results achieved in terms of molecular weight and reaction time were comparable to polymerizations conducted with 1,4-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)benzene (5), which is a considerably more reactive mono