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
Fe2(co)g in tetrahydrofuran or under sonochemical conditions as convenient practical routes to π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes
Tetrahedron
(1984)
40
1737
π-Allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes in synthesis: application to the synthesis of the β-lactam antibiotic (+)-thienamycin
J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun.
(1984)
494
(doi: 10.1039/c39840000494)
A new route to spiro-ketals using the Horner-Wittig reaction of 2-diphenylphosphinoxy cyclic ethers
Tetrahedron Letters
(1984)
25
113
Regiospecific alkylation of β-ketothioesters and use in the synthesis of acyl-tetronic acids
Tetrahedron Letters
(1983)
24
5143
Synthesis of β-lactams from π-allyltricarbonyliron (lactone) complexes
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1983)
2851
(doi: 10.1039/p19830002851)
The Diels–Alder route to drimane related sesquiterpenes; synthesis of cinnamolide, polygodial, isodrimeninol, drimenin and warburganal
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1983)
1579
(doi: 10.1039/p19830001579)
STEREOCHEMISTRY OF A 5,5,10-TRIMETHYL-2-DECALONE BY PROTON NUCLEAR MAGNETIC-RESONANCE - A NEW APPLICATION OF INDOR DIFFERENCE SPECTROSCOPY
J CHEM RES-S
(1983)
210
Peterson olefination using phenylsulphonyltrimethylsilylmethane. A new preparation of vinylic sulphones
Chemical Communications
(1983)
1281
(doi: 10.1039/c39830001281)
Total synthesis of the structurally unique ionophore antibiotic X-14547 A
J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun.
(1983)
630
(doi: 10.1039/c39830000630)
The total synthesis of the clerodane diterpene insect antifeedant ajugarin I
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1983)
503
(doi: 10.1039/c39830000503)
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