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

Design and total synthesis of unnatural analogues of the sub-nanomolar SERCA inhibitor thapsigargin
SP Andrews, MM Tait, M Ball, SV Ley - Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry (
2007)
5, 1427
(DOI:
10.1039/b702481a)
Fully automated flow-through synthesis of secondary sulfonamides in a binary reactor system
CM Griffiths-Jones, MD Hopkin, D Jonsson, SV Ley, DJ Tapolczay, E Vickerstaffe, M Ladlow - Journal of Combinatorial Chemistry (
2007)
9, 422
(DOI:
10.1021/cc060152b)
Continuous flow ligand-free Heck reactions using monolithic Pd [0] nanoparticles
N Nikbin, M Ladlow, SV Ley - Organic Process Research and Development (
2007)
11, 458
(DOI:
10.1021/op7000436)
A microcapillary flow disc reactor for organic synthesis
CH Hornung, MR Mackley, IR Baxendale, SV Ley - Organic Process Research and Development (
2007)
11, 399
(DOI:
10.1021/op700015f)
Identification of a putative azadirachtin-binding complex from Drosophila Kc167 cells
SL Robertson, WT Ni, TS Dhadialla, AJ Nisbet, C McCusker, SV Ley, W Mordue, AJ Mordue - Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology (
2007)
64, 200
(DOI:
10.1002/arch.20171)
Optimisation of conditions for O-benzyl and N-benzyloxycarbonyl protecting group removal using an automated flow hydrogenator
KR Knudsen, J Holden, SV Ley, M Ladlow - Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis (
2007)
349, 535
(DOI:
10.1002/adsc.200600558)
Total synthesis of thapsigargin, a potent SERCA pump inhibitor
M Ball, SP Andrews, F Wierschem, E Cleator, MD Smith, SV Ley - Organic Letters (
2007)
9, 663
(DOI:
10.1021/ol062947x)
Total synthesis of rapamycin
ML Maddess, MN Tackett, H Watanabe, PE Brennan, CD Spilling, JS Scott, DP Osborn, SV Ley - Angew Chem Int Ed Engl (
2007)
46, 591
(DOI:
10.1002/anie.200604053)
Total synthesis of rapamycin
ML Maddess, MN Tackett, H Watanabe, PE Brennan, CD Spilling, JS Scott, DP Osborn, SV Ley - Angewandte Chemie - International Edition (2007) 46, 591
Total synthesis of potent antifungal marine bisoxazole natural products bengazoles A and B
JA Bull, EP Balskus, RAJ Horan, M Langner, SV Ley - Chemistry (
2007)
13, 5515
(DOI:
10.1002/chem.200700033)