M. Tech. Chemistry. / While there are existing methods for the analysis and authentication of avocado oil based on the composition of the saponifiable fraction, the projected growth in the market for avocado oil as heart healthy edible oil or for use in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals may lead some producers to cheat via adulteration with inferior vegetable oils of similar fatty acid composition. Thus new methods based on the analysis of the unsaponifiable fraction could be used to complement the existing methods of detecting undesirable additives. The aim is to develop a method of selective benzoylation of 1,2-diols and 1,2,4-triols based on the Martinelli protocol.