A useful functionalized PPE may be prepared with an oxidizing agent such as benzoyl peroxide or a mixture of a peroxide and a phenol such as bisphenol-A. The functionalized PPE may also be prepared by allowing PPE to react with a species containing both a carbon--carbon double or triple bond and a reactive moiety such as acid, anhydride, amine, imide, epoxy, oxazoline, orthoester, hydroxyl, phosph