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hydroxyaryl can also be an individual hydroxyaryl or a mixture of hydroxyaryls. 

The following examples are illustrative of the invention and its advantageous properties. In the examples as well as elsewhere in this application, all parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated. 

It needs to be pointed out that the molecular weights shown in the examples are far short of the theoretical values. The size exclusion chromatography readings (SEC) of molecular weights used in this case are highly dependant on hydrodynamic volume which causes the discrepancy. Nevertheless, although such molecular weights are well below theoretical and therefore erroneous on an absolute basis, such molecular weights discern differences between higher molecular weight and lower molecular weight mate› rials and can thus be used on a comparative basis. 

The weight average molecular weight(Mw) and number average molecular weight (Mn) values obtained by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) reflect the average hydro› dynamic volume of the molecules and usually (except for simple hydroxyaryl, phenol, cresol, bisphenol-A and bisphenol-F) do not reflect an accurate molecular weight. For example SEC molecular weight for the following pure materials as shown in Table A below are significantly lower than theoretical. The abbreviation "VPO" in Table A stands for vapor phase osmometry and is more in line with theory as compared to SEC. The VPD was performed in toluene. 

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It can be seen from Table A that the number average molecular weights via vapor phase osmometry (VPO) is more in line with theory. 

The weight average molecular weight (Mw) and number average molecular weight (Mn) herein are measured using size exclusion gel permeation chromatography and phenolic compounds and polystyrene standards. The sample molecu- lar weight to be measured is prepared as follows: the sample is dissolved in tetrahydrofuran and the solution is run through a gel permeation chromatograph. For Examples 1-27 and lx-8x, the SEC peak at 95–1 was excluded from the calculation of molecular weight. This would exclude phenol and the hydroxyphenyl-non-conjugated-diene com- pound. 

Table lA below, shows reactants and reaction conditions for Examples (Ex) 1 through 27 whereas Table lB shows properties of the reaction products for each of the individual examples (Ex). The method for production of the conden› sates in Examples 2-27 are the same as that for Example 1 given below, except as may be indicated on Table lA and for a two hour addition of diene instead of one hour. 

## EXAMPLES 1-27 

A Low Viscosity Phenol/Dicyclopentadiene Condensate 

A multi-neck 500 ml flask with stir bar and fitted with a thermometer and condenser was charged under nitrogen with: 150 g (grams) of phenol (1.59 moles); 5 g of _ti-methyl pyrrolidone(NMP) (3.33% based on the weight of phenol); and 0.9 g of triflic acid (0.6% based on the weight of phenol). The stirred solution was heated to 95° C. and over the course of 1.5 hours 70 g (0.53 moles) of dicyclopenta› diene (Ultrene 97 of B.F. Goodrich Co.) was added at 95° C.–1 ° C. This provided a diene/phenol mole ratio of 0.33. The reaction mixture, over the course of about ten minutes, was heated to 119° C. and held at 119° C. for one hour. The reaction mixture was then cooled slightly and 100 ml (milliliters) of warm water was added and stirred well. Upon standing, about 88 ml clear aqueous layer was removed and the organic layer returned to the reaction flask for distilla› tion. After 62 g of atmospheric distillate was collected, vacuum distillation was continued over about 45 minutes with final temperature of 153° C. at slightly less than 30 inches vacuum. Yield of the dark amber liquid was 115 g, vacuum distillate was 99 g and contained 90.5% phenol and 6.8% water. Twenty grams of the dicyclopentadiene/phenol condensate was dissolved in 20 g of toluene and 15 g of n-heptane and extracted with 40 g water. The organic layer was evaporated at ambient temperature to about 22 g and then dried at 125° C. to 130° C. to give 19.3 g liquid with a viscosity of 340 centistokes (about 400 cps). 

A solid could be isolated from the original 115 g by adding slightly to less than equal weight of n-heptane, cooling to about -10° C. and quickly suction filtering, rinsing with pre-cooled n-heptane and vacuum drying. Molecular weight of the liquid and solid products were (Mw/Mn) 170/152 and 166/155, respectively. 

Definitions or explanations for abbreviations, headings and subscripts shown in Table lA and lB below as well as in examples and other tables herein are as follows unless the context indicates otherwise: 

"Ex." means an example such as for the example num› bers; 

"Diene" such as used in headings refers to the specific diene employed in the example involved wherein: "D-97" is dicyclopentadiene (Ultrene 97 of BF Goo› drich of Akron, Ohio), "D-99" is dicyclopentadiene (Ultrene 99 of BF Goodrich), "L-99" is D-limonene (Limonene HP of T2 Labs of Jacksonville, Fla.) wherein the "99" indicates 99% purity; 

the "Triflic Acid Cat. %" heading is the percent of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, by weight, based on the weight of phenol in the reaction mixture of the example involved: 

NMP is _ti-methyl pyrrolidone; NC$_{6}$P is _ti-cyclohexyl pyrrolidone; MeOH is methanol; H$_{2}$ 0 is water; and PVP is poly(2-vinyl pyrrolidone); 

the "Catalyst Modifier %" heading is the percent of the retarder by weight, based on the weight of phenol in the reaction mixture for the example involved; 

the "Mole Ratio is the mole ratio of diene to phenol; 

the "Reaction Conditions" heading provides the beginning, "Start" temperature in degrees centigrade"( 0 C.)"; and the "Final"(° C./hr)" for the Final temperature and time of reaction before neutralization of the trif› luoromethanesulfonic acid catalyst and removal of phe› nol from the reactior mixture; 

## EXAMPLE 1 

