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

Efficient batch and continuous flow Suzuki cross-coupling reactions under mild conditions, catalysed by polyurea-encapsulated palladium (II) acetate and tetra-n-butylammonium salts
CKY Lee, AB Holmes, SV Ley, IF McConvey, B Al-Duri, GA Leeke, RCD Santos, JPK Seville
Chemical Communications
(2005)
Stereoselective synthesis of (2S,7S)-7-(4-phenoxymethyl)2-(1-N-hydroxyureidyl-3-butyn-4-yl)oxepane: a potential anti-asthmatic drug candidate
MK Gurjar, BV Rao, LM Krishna, MS Chorghade, SV Ley
Tetrahedron: Asymmetry
(2005)
16
Highly diastereoselective desymmetrisation of cyclic meso-anhydrides and derivatisation to mono-protected 1,4-diols
SV Ley, AC Evans, DA Longbottom, M Matsuoka
Synlett
(2005)
A homo-proline tetrazole as an improved organocatalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition of carbonyl compounds to nitro-olefins
SV Ley, CE Mitchell, AJ Cobb
Synlett
(2005)
A highly automated, polymer-assisted strategy for the preparation of 2-alkylthiobenzimidazoles and N,N′-dialkylbenzimidazolin-2-ones
E Vickerstaffe, BH Warrington, M Ladlow, SV Ley
Journal of Combinatorial Chemistry
(2005)
7
Synthesis of a Ceramide Sphingolipid as a Potential Sex Pheromone of the Hair CrabErimacrus isenbeckiiUsing Butane-2,3-diacetal Desymmetrised Glycolic Acid Building Blocks
SV Ley, DJ Dixon, S Lohmann, TD Sheppard
Synlett
(2005)
The total synthesis of the annonaceous acetogenin 10-hydroxyasimicin
GL Nattrass, E Díez, MM McLachlan, DJ Dixon, SV Ley
Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
(2005)
44
Supported Reagents and Scavengers in Multi-step Organic Synthesis
IR Baxendale, SV Ley
(2005)
Total synthesis of the Fusarium toxin equisetin
LT Burke, DJ Dixon, SV Ley, F Rodríguez
Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry
(2004)
3
Organocatalysis with proline derivatives: improved catalysts for the asymmetric Mannich, nitro-Michael and aldol reactions
AJA Cobb, DM Shaw, DA Longbottom, JB Gold, SV Ley
Org Biomol Chem
(2004)
3

Research Group

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address