Subject toluene-modified

It is not surprising that the data produced as total petroleum hydrocarbons (EPA 418.1) suffer from several shortcomings as an index of potential ground-water contamination or health risk. In fact, it does not actually measure the total petroleum hydrocarbons in the sample but rather, measures a specific range of hydrocarbon compounds. This is caused by limitations of the extraction process (solvents used and the concentration steps) and the reference standards used for instrumental analysis. The method specifically states that it does not accurately measure the lighter fractions of gasoline [benzene-toluene-ethylbenzene-xylenes fraction (BTEX)], which should include the benzene-toluene-ethylbenzene-xylenes fraction. Further, the method was originally a method for water samples that has been modified for solids, and it is subject to bias. 

The modified Corey-Nicoiaou macroiactonization was applied for the construction of the BCD ring system of brevetoxin A by K.C. Nicolaou and co-workers. The dihydroxy dicarboxylic acid substrate was subjected to a one-pot bis-lactonization. After the formation of the bis-2-pyridinethiol ester, the lactonization was conducted at low substrate concentration (0.013 M) in toluene at reflux temperature. 

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