Strictly alternating poly(alkylene oxide ether) copolymers

A polyether copolymer characterized by strictly alternating poly(alkylene oxide) and aromatic diol monomeric repeating units having the structure:

• wherein R1 is sleected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl groups with up to 18 carbon atoms, provided that R1 contains between 9 and 18 carbon atoms when R1 is an alkylaryl group;
• or R1 has the structure:
• wherein R5 and R6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, Br, I and straight and branched alkyl groups having up to 18 carbon atoms, R0 is selected from the group consisting of (—CH2—)d, —CH═CH— and (—CHJ1—CHJ2), R15 is selected from the group consisting of (—CH2—)c, —CH═CH— and (—CHJ1—CHJ2), wherein J1 and J2 are independently Br or I;
• c and d are independently between 0 and 8, inclusive;
• and Z is selected from the group consisting of H, a free carboxylic acid group or an ester or amide thereof;
• R7 is selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• m is between about 5 and about 3,000;
• X2 is independently I or Br;
• and Y2 is between 0 and 2, inclusive.