Suspension-cultured cells of mangrove [Bruguiera sexangula (Lour.) Poir.] showed a rapid increase in vacuolar volume under salt stress, although there was no change in the cell volume. The rapid increase in the vacuolar volume was an active process, which followed the activation of the tonoplast H + -ATPase and the vacuolar acid phosphatase. The same phenomenon was observed in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Doriru) root meristematic cells under salt stress but not in pea (Pisum sativum L.). Increases in vacuolar volume could potentially protect the cytoplasm by decreasing the cytoplasmic volume during the initial phases of salt stress.

SynopsisDeformation mechanism of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) fiber during axial compression was studied. PPTA fibers were embedded in resin and axialy compressed in a tensile machine. PPTA fibers were then taken out from resin at various stages of compression. Kink band formation was examined by means of polarizing microscopy, X-ray diffraction (WAXD), electron diffraction (ED), and electron microscopy. WAXD pattern of seriously compressed PPTA fiber shows that (200) reflection spots and arcs appear on the equator and meridian respectively. On the other hand, (110) reflection spots are confined to the equator. PPTA fiber could be splitted tangentially and radially into two kinds of thin fibrillar fragments (I and 11) which reveal two distinct types of kink band and ED pattern. In fragment I obtained by tangential splitting, kink bands are formed at about 55O with respect to fibril axis, whereas in fragment I1 obtained by radial splitting kink bands are formed perpendicular to the fibril axis. These results were confirmed by ED studies. It was assumed that slip of (200) planes containing hydrogen bonded sheets as well as intermicrofibril slip plays an important role in the deformation of PPTA fiber during axial compression.

The first catalytic enantioselective reaction of 2H-azirines with thiols has been developed. The obtained aziridines can be converted to optically active oxazolines, aziridylamides, or α-sulfonyl esters. Transformation of these optically active aziridines showed that 2H-azirines act as β,β-dicarbocationic amine synthons.

The enantioselective reaction of 2H-azirines with oxazol-5-(4H)-ones (oxazolones) using a cinchona alkaloid sulfonamide catalyst has been developed. The reaction proceeded at the C-2 position of oxazolones to afford products with consecutive tetrasubstituted stereogenic centers in high yield with high diastereo- and enantioselectivity. The obtained aziridines were converted into various chiral compounds without loss of enantiopurity.

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