A variety of 2‐monosubstituted and 2,2‐disubstituted 1‐chlorovinyl p‐tolyl sulfoxides was synthesized through a one‐pot procedure by the Horner‐Wadsworth‐Emmons reaction of carbonyl compounds with [chloro(diethoxyphosphoryl)(p‐tolylsulfinyl)methyl]lithium, which was generated from diethyl chlorophosphate, chloromethyl p‐tolyl sulfoxide, and lithium diisopropylamide in advance. The in situ‐prepared sulfoxides were directly converted into alkynes via the sulfoxide/magnesium exchange reaction with i‐PrMgCl and the subsequent Fritsch‐Buttenberg‐Wiechell rearrangement of the resulting magnesium alkylidene carbenoids.

The unfolded protein response (UPR) mitigates stress caused by accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) is the most conserved sensor of the UPR with ribonuclease activity that mediates cytoplasmic splicing and decay of mRNA encoding secretory and membrane proteins. In the present study, we demonstrate that the Arabidopsis mutant defective in two IRE1 genes exhibit retarded growth of primary roots under moderate salt stress, although such grow retardation is not observed in wild type plants. Microscopic observation showed decrease in the number of meristematic cells in the mutant under salt stress. This finding suggests that IRE1 plays a role in the maintenance of root meristems under salt stress. Possible connections between the function of IRE1 and the salt sensitivity are discussed.

A New Annulation Based on a One-Pot Double Michael Addition Using Aluminum Tris(2,6-diphenylphenoxide) (ATPH). -It opens a diastereoselective route to 6-membered carbocycles. -(SAITO, S.; SH-IOZAWA, M.; TAKAMORI, Y.; YAMAMOTO, H.; Synlett (1997) 4, 359-360; Grad. Sch. Eng., Nagoya Univ., Chikusa, Nagoya 464, Japan; EN)