New amorphous poly(arylene ether ketone)s with amide substituents were prepared via nucleophilic nitro displacement reaction. The dinitro monomer, 1,4-bis[4-nitro-3-(1-piperidylcarbonyl)benzoyl]benzene, was synthesized through a masked acyl anion equivalent, bis(aminoacetonitrile). The weight average molecular weight ((M) over bar(w)) of the polymers is about 40000, the glass transition temperature around 200 degrees C. The polymers are soluble in common organic solvents such as chloroform, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). The polymer from the dinitro monomer and bisphenol A is easily cast into a transparent and flexible freestanding film. 5% weight loss temperatures of the polymers are in the range from 409-418 degrees C under N-2.