A bis(aryl)acetal has the formula wherein Y1 and Y2 are each independently chloro, bromo, iodo, mesylate, tosylate, triflate, or Bx, provided that Y1 and Y2 are not both selected from chloro, bromo, and iodo; each occurrence of Bx is independently a boron-containing functional group bonded to Ar1 or Ar2 via a boron atom; Ar1 and Ar2 are each independently unsubstituted or substituted C6-18 arylene, or unsubstituted or substituted C3-18 heteroarylene; provided that Ar1 and Ar2 are not covalently linked to each other to form a ring structure that includes —Ar1—O—C—O—Ar2—; and R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted C1-18 linear or branched alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C3-20 cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C6-18 aryl, or unsubstituted or substituted C3-20 heteroaryl. The bis(aryl)acetal is useful as a monomer for oligoacetal and polyacetal synthesis via Suzuki polycondensation.