Use of Margarine for the Successful Removal of Polyisobutylene in an Anhinga () and Great Blue Heron ().

Two great blue herons () and an anhinga () were presented to the Wildlife Center of Texas with extensive plumage soiling from polyisobutylene (PIB), a synthetic rubber polymer used in manufacturing. All animals were provided supportive care and sedated for evaluation for hematologic and plasma biochemical values; one of the great blue herons was critically ill, based on the diagnostic evaluations and died approximately 24 hours after admission. On postmortem examination, it was diagnosed with coelomic migration of species resulting in verminous peritonitis that was likely the primary cause of its poor condition and death, rather than the PIB exposure.

Triphosgene-amine base promoted chlorination of unactivated aliphatic alcohols.

Unactivated α-branched primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols have been successfully transformed into their corresponding alkyl chlorides in high yields upon treatment with a mixture of triphosgene and pyridine in dichloromethane at reflux. These mild chlorination conditions are high yielding, stereospecific, and well tolerated by numerous sensitive functionalities. Furthermore, no nuisance waste products are generated in the course of the reactions.