In the Ley Group, we specialise in developing new synthesis methods and applying them to the construction of biologically important molecules. Over the last 4 years we have completed the total synthesis of 38 natural products including spongistatin 1 (anti-mitotic agent), rapamycin (immunosuppressant), thapsigargin (SERCA pumps inhibitor), azadirachtin (insect antifeedant) and bengazole A (fungicide), taking our group total to 140 completed total syntheses. In addition to our research on natural product synthesis, we have the Innovative Technology Centre (ITC); a new state-of-the-art flow chemistry facility. Our group is also part of the CRUK PhD Training Programme in Medicinal Chemistry.
For more detailed research information, group members and our publication list please see the group website
Highly diastereoselective desymmetrisation of cyclic meso-anhydrides and derivatisation for use in natural product synthesis
AC Evans, DA Longbottom, M Matsuoka, JE Davies, R Turner, V Franckevicius, SV Ley - Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry (
2009)
7, 747
(DOI:
10.1039/b813494d)
Total synthesis of the potent antifungal agents bengazole C and E
A Enriquez-Garcia, SV Ley - Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications (
2009)
74, 887
(DOI:
10.1135/cccc2009016)
Total synthesis of (-)-spirangien a and the corresponding methyl ester
PB Cranwell, SV Ley - Chemtracts (2009) 22, 173
Total Synthesis of Rapamycin
SV Ley, MN Tackett, ML Maddess, JC Anderson, PE Brennan, MW Cappi, JP Heer, C Helgen, M Kori, C Kouklovsky, SP Marsden, J Norman, DP Osborn, MA Palomero, JBJ Pavey, C Pinel, LA Robinson, J Schnaubelt, JS Scott, CD Spilling, H Watanabe, KE Wesson, MC Willis - Chemistry (
2009)
15, 2874
(DOI:
10.1002/chem.200801656)
Synthesis of Azadirachtin: A long but successful journey
GE Veitch, E Beckmann, BJ Burke, A Boyer, SL Maslen, SV Ley - Chemtracts (2009) 22, 214
Second-generation synthesis of azadirachtin: a concise preparation of the propargylic mesylate fragment.
A Boyer, GE Veitch, E Beckmann, SV Ley - Angew Chem Int Ed Engl (
2009)
48, 1317
(DOI:
10.1002/anie.200805395)
Multistep synthesis using modular flow reactors: Bestmann-Ohira reagent for the formation of alkynes and triazoles.
IR Baxendale, SV Ley, AC Mansfield, CD Smith - Angew Chem Int Ed Engl (
2009)
48, 4017
(DOI:
10.1002/anie.200900970)
An efficient and transition metal free protocol for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones as a continuous flow process
J Sedelmeier, SV Ley, IR Baxendale - Green Chemistry (
2009)
11, 683
(DOI:
10.1039/b821752a)
Natural-product-like spiroketals and fused bicyclic acetals as potential therapeutic agents for B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
LG Milroy, G Zinzalla, F Loiseau, ZZ Qian, G Prencipe, C Pepper, C Fegan, SV Ley - ChemMedChem (
2008)
3, 1922
(DOI:
10.1002/cmdc.200800265)
A Bifurcated Pathway to Thiazoles and Imidazoles Using a Modular Flow Microreactor
IR Baxendale, SV Ley, CD Smith, L Tamborini, AF Voica - Journal of Combinatorial Chemistry (
2008)
10, 851
(DOI:
10.1021/cc800070a)
