Preparation of high intrinsic viscosity poly(arylene ether) resins

This invention relates to a process for the preparation of poly(arylene ether) resins. In particular, it relates to a process for preparing high intrinsic viscosity poly(arylene ether) resins. Poly(arylene ether) resins having intrinsic viscosities greater than about 0.8 dL/g are produced in the reaction of a phenol with oxygen in the presence of an organic solvent and a metal complex catalyst, the phenol concentration being about 5 to about 15 weight percent of the sum of phenol and solvent, and the molar ratio of metal in the metal complex catalyst to the phenol being about 1:100 to about 1:200.