Functionalized polyphenylene ether compositions are provided which are particularly useful for effecting compatibility for a blend of polyphenylene ether resin and a polyamide resin. The functionalized-polyphenylene ether is the reaction product of a polyphenylene ether polymer and a compound having the general formula (i)--Z--(ii), wherein group (i) is a polyphenylene ether-philic moiety such as acyl chloride, group (ii) is a polyamide-philic moiety such as dicarboxylic acid anhydride, and Z is a divalent hydrocarbon radical providing a covalent linkage between groups (i) and (ii). An example of the compound having general formula (i)--Z--(ii) is trimellitic anhydride acid chloride.