A process for forming a N,N′-diaryl-N,N′-di(hydroxyaryl)-aryl-diamine compound includes reacting a halogenated aryl compound with an etherified diarylamine in the presence of a catalyst, then deprotecting the resulting N,N′-diaryl-N,N′-di(alkyl-oxyaryl)-aryl-diamine to form the N,N′-diaryl-N,N′-di(hydroxyaryl)-aryl-diamine.