Professor Steve Ley CBE FRS FMedSci | Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry

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Director of Research

In the Ley Group, we specialise in developing new synthesis methods and applying them to the construction of biologically important molecules. Over the years we have completed the total synthesis of many natural products, including: spongistatin 1 (anti-mitotic agent); rapamycin (immunosuppressant); thapsigargin (SERCA pumps inhibitor); azadirachtin (insect antifeedant); and bengazole A (fungicide). In addition to our research on natural product synthesis, we also pioneered flow chemistry and machine assisted synthesis.

For more detailed research information and our publication list, please see our legacy group website.

Completed Natural Products

Publications

Continuous Flow Techniques in the Total Synthesis of Jaspine B: Part II.

M Gurský, D Trnovcová, P Lopatka, M Markovič, P Koóš, SV Ley, T Gracza

– J Org Chem

(2025)

acs.joc.5c01799

(doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.5c01799)

Straightforward, Scalable, Solution-Phase Synthesis of Peptide Bonds in Flow.

ZE Wilson, E Lopez, NJ Flodén, C Watkins, G Bianchini, SV Ley

– Journal of flow chemistry

(2025)

15,

67

(doi: 10.1007/s41981-025-00347-2)

Carbonylative transformations with Pd catalysts supported on bio-degradable urea-based polymer - Part A

M Markovič, P Lopatka, P Koóš, T Soták, A Ház, T Gracza, SV Ley, M Králik

– Catalysis Today

(2024)

441,

114903

(doi: 10.1016/j.cattod.2024.114903)

Palladium catalysts supported on biodegradable urea-based polymers in synthesis with CO - Part B

M Markovič, P Lopatka, P Koóš, T Soták, A Ház, T Gracza, SV Ley, M Králik

– Catalysis Today

(2024)

440,

114831

(doi: 10.1016/j.cattod.2024.114831)

Antascomicin B stabilizes FKBP51-Akt1 complexes as a molecular glue

SC Schäfer, AM Voll, A Bracher, SV Ley, F Hausch

– Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters

(2024)

104,

129728

(doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2024.129728)

Continuous flow synthesis enabling reaction discovery.

AI Alfano, J García-Lacuna, OM Griffiths, SV Ley, M Baumann

– Chemical Science

(2024)

15,

4618

(doi: 10.1039/d3sc06808k)

Nitro-sulfinate Reductive Coupling to Access (Hetero)aryl Sulfonamides.

SE Gatarz, OM Griffiths, HA Esteves, W Jiao, P Morse, EL Fisher, DC Blakemore, SV Ley

– The Journal of Organic Chemistry

(2024)

89,

1898

(doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.3c02557)

Photoredox-Catalyzed Preparation of Sulfones Using Bis-Piperidine Sulfur Dioxide - An Underutilized Reagent for SO2 Transfer

OM Griffiths, HA Esteves, DC Emmet, SV Ley

– Chemistry

(2024)

30,

e202303976

(doi: 10.1002/chem.202303976)

Automated multistep synthesis of 2-pyrazolines in continuous flow

SV Ley, R Labes, JC Pastre, RJ Ingham, C Battilocchio, HM Marçon, MCFCB Damião, DN Tran

– Reaction Chemistry and Engineering

(2023)

9,

558

(doi: 10.1039/D3RE00515A)

The Evolution of Flow Chemistry: An Opinion on Factors Driving Innovation.

SL Bourne, F Amann, SV Ley

– Chimia (Aarau)

(2023)

77,

288

(doi: 10.2533/chimia.2023.288)