A diphenol compound of formula: wherein: y1 and y2 are each independently 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, with the proviso that y1 and y2 are not both 0; m and n are each independently an integer in the range of 1 to 12; X 1 and X 2, at each occurrence, are each independently bromine (Br) or iodine; L 1 is selected from the group consisting of a bond, oxygen (-O-), and -R 4 -C -O-; L 4 is selected from the group consisting of a bond, oxygen (-O-), and optionally substituted phenoxy (-C 6 H 4 -O-); and R 4 is selected from the group consisting of a bond, C 1 -C 30 alkyl, C 2 -C 30 alkenyl, C 2 -C 30 alkynyl, C 1 -C 30 heteroalkyl, C 2 -C 30 heteroalkenyl, C 2 -C 30 heteroalkynyl, C 6 -C 30 aryl, C 7 -C 30 alkylaryl, C 8 -C 30 alkenylaryl, C 8 -C 30 alkynylaryl, and C 2 -C 30 heteroaryl; wherein the alkyl group may be substituted or unsubstituted, wherein when substituted, the substituent group(s) is(are) one or more group(s) individually and independently selected from alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclyl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, (heteroalicyclyl)alkyl, hydroxy, protected hydroxyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyl, ester, mercapto, alkylthio, arylthio, cyano, halogen, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, O-carbamyl, N-carbamyl, O-thiocarbamyl, N-thiocarbamyl, C-amido, N-amido, S-sulfonamido, N-sulfonamido, C-carboxy, protected C-carboxy, O-carboxy, isocyanato, thiocyanato, isothiocyanato, nitro, silyl, sulfenyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, trihalomethanesulfonyl, trihalomethanesulfonamido, and amino, including mono- and di-substituted amino groups, and the protected derivatives thereof. y1 and y2 are each independently 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, with the proviso that y1 and y2 are not both 0; m and n are each independently an integer in the range of 1 to 12; X 1 and X 2, at each occurrence, are each independently bromine (Br) or iodine; L 1 is selected from the group consisting of a bond, oxygen (-O-), and -R 4 -C -O-; L 4 is selected from the group consisting of a bond, oxygen (-O-), and optionally substituted phenoxy (-C 6 H 4 -O-); and R 4 is selected from the group consisting of a bond, C 1 -C 30 alkyl, C 2 -C 30 alkenyl, C 2 -C 30 alkynyl, C 1 -C 30 heteroalkyl, C 2 -C 30 heteroalkenyl, C 2 -C 30 heteroalkynyl, C 6 -C 30 aryl, C 7 -C 30 alkylaryl, C 8 -C 30 alkenylaryl, C 8 -C 30 alkynylaryl, and C 2 -C 30 heteroaryl; wherein the alkyl group may be substituted or unsubstituted, wherein when substituted, the substituent group(s) is(are) one or more group(s) individually and independently selected from alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclyl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, (heteroalicyclyl)alkyl, hydroxy, protected hydroxyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyl, ester, mercapto, alkylthio, arylthio, cyano, halogen, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, O-carbamyl, N-carbamyl, O-thiocarbamyl, N-thiocarbamyl, C-amido, N-amido, S-sulfonamido, N-sulfonamido, C-carboxy, protected C-carboxy, O-carboxy, isocyanato, thiocyanato, isothiocyanato, nitro, silyl, sulfenyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, trihalomethanesulfonyl, trihalomethanesulfonamido, and amino, including mono- and di-substituted amino groups, and the protected derivatives thereof.