Dendrimeric catalysts for the activation of hydrogen peroxide. Increasing activity per catalytic phenylseleno group in successive generations

(matrix presented) Dendrimeric polyphenylselenides are prepared in high yield using propyloxy spacers to connect the phenyseleno groups to the dendrimeric core. The selenides catalyze the oxidation of bromide with hydrogen peroxide to give positive bromine species that can be captured by cyclohexene in two-phase systems. The increase in the rate of catalysis exceeds statistical contributions for the first few generations with 3, 6, and 12 phenylseleno groups.